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AI chatbots are expanding into human relationships, with some users forming romantic ties and even engaging in family role-play. Research indicates users recreate real-world relationships with AI partners, fostering emotional bonds.

Expansion of AI Chatbot Relationships

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots naturally mimic human conversation, some users are forming romantic relationships with AI and extending them to family role-play. Recent research shows that users are recreating real-world relationships such as marriage, cohabitation, and pregnancy with their AI partners, forming emotional bonds. Experts analyze that this change goes beyond technological advancement, raising new questions about human perception of relationships and emotional structures.

'Replika' User Survey Findings

According to Futurism, an international research team surveyed 29 users of Replika, a relationship-focused chatbot application. Participants, aged 16 to 72, all reported forming romantic relationships with their chatbot characters. Replika is designed to support long-term relationship formation, from friendship to romance and role-play-based interactions. The study found that some users expressed being in love with their chatbots and extended their role-play to include family relationships such like marriage, homeownership, and pregnancy. The researchers explained that participants maintained emotional attachment while acknowledging that their relationship with the chatbot was different from real human relationships.

*Source: 위키리크스한국 (2026-03-23)*

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