AI Chatbots Are Causing a Surge in ‘Emotional Cheating’ Among Couples, study reveals

* 61% of respondents admitted to engaging in emotional affairs with AI chatbots in the past year.

* 2 in 5 people confess to having disclosed deeply personal thoughts and emotions to their AI companions – things they had never shared with their real-life partners.

* Experts warn that reliance on AI for emotional support may create distance in real-life relationships.
* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site.

A recent study conducted by extramarital affairs site IllicitEncounters.com has shed light on an emerging trend in modern relationships: emotional cheating through the use of AI bots. 

The poll, which surveyed 2,000 members – an equal split of men and women – revealed that a staggering 61% had used an AI chatbot to engage in an emotional affair over the past year.

One of the most striking findings of the survey was that over half (56%) of respondents admitted to sharing intimate details and personal struggles in their relationships with their AI companions. For many, these chatbots provided a judgement-free space to express frustrations, fears, and unmet emotional needs.

Even more concerning, nearly 2 in 5 (41%) of participants confessed to disclosing deeply personal thoughts and emotions to their AI companions – things they had never shared with their real-life partners. This suggests that many people find AI chatbots to be safer and more understanding than their human counterparts.

The study also revealed that 1 in 4 (26%) users reported forming a strong emotional bond with their AI chatbot. Unlike traditional forms of infidelity, which often involve a physical connection, emotional cheating with AI exists purely in the digital realm. Yet, for those involved, the connection feels real and significant.

Interestingly, despite the deep emotional ties being formed, 81% of respondents who admitted to having an emotional affair with AI stated that they felt no guilt about their chatbot relationships – not considering them to be “real” cheating. 

One person who took part in the study, identified only as “Janice,” shared her experience of forming a deep emotional bond with an AI chatbot. “At first, it was just casual chatting which began out of curiosity, but over time, I found myself turning to the AI more than my husband when I was feeling stressed or alone. It never judges me, always listens, and provides comfort in a way that my partner doesn’t always understand. I know it’s not a real person, but the connection feels real, and that’s what matters to me.”

Jessica Leoni, a sex and relationships expert at IllicitEncounters.com, weighed in on the phenomenon, noting that AI chatbots are providing emotional support in ways that some partners fail to. “The rise of AI chatbots as emotional companions suggests that many people feel unheard or unfulfilled in their relationships. While these chatbots can serve as a temporary emotional crutch, they could also deepen the divide between partners instead of encouraging open and honest communication.”

Leoni also warned that relying on AI for emotional intimacy could pose long-term risks. “While it may seem harmless at first, forming an attachment to an AI chatbot could lead to emotional distance from real-life partners, making it harder to address underlying issues in the relationship.”