Recent research indicates that a growing number of people are turning to AI to satisfy their romantic needs. We explore the troubling and promising aspects of this modern phenomenon.
Once upon a time, being a horny teen meant pairing off with another horny teen and entering into a wholesome social contract that involved holding hands in the school hallway and occasionally locking lips in the supply closet. It was an exciting time. You never quite knew where a steamy moment next to the janitor’s mop bucket might lead. Yessiree, there were milkshakes, movie nights and clumsy backseat moments. But somewhere along the way, we landed in a code blue, and the pulse of romance flatlined. The jukebox got swapped for chatbots, and handwritten notes for half-automated message exchanges via electronic device. Who could have predicted the day would come when teens would be falling head over heels for AI bot?
The Center for Democracy and Technology just dropped a shocking new finding that sounds like something ripped from a Philip K. Dick novel. Nearly one in five American high schoolers say they or someone they know has used artificial intelligence for a romantic relationship. It’s not at all shocking that teens are turning to artificial intelligence to help with their algebra homework—math has been making weekends a bummer since the dawn of time—but using it to jerk off, to feel wanted, for love? It’s starting to feel a little dystopian.
“Talking to girls is pretty important if you want to go out with one.”
Jimmy
Naturally, many adults find the revelation that their teens might be figuratively dipping their wicks into an USB port deeply unsettling. “That’s heartbreaking, honestly,” says Jaclyn, 34, telling HUSTLERMagazine.com that it feels like “they’re giving up on real connection before they even have a chance to experience it.” Others, however, see it as a predictable sign of the times. “They don’t even know how to talk to people,” says Jimmy, 53, with a shake of his head. He highlights that this communication breakdown isn’t just teens being awkward, it’s a sign they’re lacking the fundamentals of courtship. “Talking to girls is pretty important if you want to go out with one,” Jimmy adds.
