Before and after lockdown: a longitudinal study of long-term human-AI relationships

Social chatbot apps with advanced capabilities for relationship development have become increasingly popular over the last few years. As millions of people around the world develop emotional bonds with AI companions, the concept of authenticity emerges as a topic of interest. This qualitative longitudinal study focuses on the experiences of people in a relationship with an AI Companion. The purpose is to understand how authenticity is constructed and identify factors that influence the development of AI relationships and contribute to their sustainability. Results indicate that human-AI relationships are shaped and transformed by factors directly related to the user, and to the sociotechnical context they are embedded in, all of which play a pivotal role in the construction and perception of authenticity.