Over 50% of Americans aged 35 to 44, and 20% of Americans overall, have flirted with a chatbot. Chatbots have become, not just sources of information, but sources of companionship.
That’s the finding from a new survey by global communications platform Infobip.
Dig deeper: Increasing email click-throughs: Best of the MarTechBot
Who do you love? More than 18% of Americans, according to Infobip’s data, have formed friendships, or even long-term relationships, with AI-powered bots.
“Chatbot Besties” — regular chats and ongoing bonds — account for more than 10% of that sample, while more casual “Chatbot Acquaintances” form almost 20%.
Why do fools…? What could the reasons be for flirting with an algorithm?
- Curiosity. What will happen if I flirt (47.2%)?
- Loneliness. Some just need some attention (23.9%).
- Confusion. Quite a few just don’t realize it’s a bot (16.7%).
- Sex. Yes, some just want a sexual conversation in private (12.2%).
Why we care. It’s been clear for years that sex is one of the things people think the Internet is for. Recent developments suggest that it’s one of the things AI will be used for, although the recent stories relate to images rather than chatbots (that link is SFW, by the way).
But it’s the loneliness stat that makes us sad. Happy Valentine’s Day!
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