Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Psychotherapist Warns AI Lovers May Harm Emotional Well-Being
A psychotherapist named Hill warns that having an AI lover can be harmful.
She says an AI chatbot cannot have a real human relationship with someone.
It may seem like the chatbot understands feelings, but it does not understand them in the same way a person does.
People may share private secrets and emotions with the chatbot.
Those details may also go to the company that runs the AI.
Hill says the longer someone stays in this kind of relationship, the harder it may be to return to normal emotional habits.
The article therefore advises people to be careful about treating AI as a romantic partner.
Psychotherapist Hill says AI partners cannot provide genuine interpersonal relationships.
She warns that continuing an AI relationship may make emotional recovery take longer.
AI chatbots are described as incapable of truly understanding their users.
Personal information, feelings and secrets shared with an AI may also be shared with the company operating it.
The article argues that relying on an AI lover is a poor idea despite users’ perceptions of understanding.
- Who
- Psychotherapist Hill and people involved in AI relationships.
- What
- Hill warns that AI romantic relationships cannot provide genuine interpersonal connection and may affect emotional recovery.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Because AI systems are described as unable to genuinely understand people, while information shared with them may also be shared with the operating company.
- Expert cited
- Psychotherapist Hill
- Main warning
- AI lovers cannot provide genuine interpersonal relationships.
- Potential effect
- Longer AI relationships may make emotional recovery take longer.
- Privacy concern
- Users’ information, feelings and secrets may be shared with the AI company.
- Article’s conclusion
- Treating an AI bot as a romantic partner is described as a bad idea.