Finding love in algorithms: deciphering the emotional contexts of close encounters with AI chatbots

Abstract AI chatbots are permeating the socio-emotional realms of human life, presenting both benefits and challenges to interpersonal dynamics and well-being. Despite burgeoning interest in human–AI relationships, the conversational and emotional nuances of real-world, in situ human–AI social interactions remain underexplored. Through computational analysis of a multimodal dataset with over 35,000 screenshots and posts from r/replika, we identified seven prevalent types of human–AI social interactions: intimate behavior, mundane interaction, self-disclosure, play and fantasy, customization, transgression, and communication breakdown, and examined their associations with six basic human emotions. Our findings suggest the paradox of emotional connection with AI, indicated by the bittersweet emotion in intimate encounters with AI chatbots, and the elevated fear in uncanny valley moments when AI exhibits semblances of mind in deep self-disclosure. Customization characterizes the distinctiveness of AI companionship, positively elevating user experiences, whereas transgression and communication breakdown elicit fear or sadness. Lay Summary This study explores the types of social interactions with AI chatbots that users shared and the emotions tied to these interactions. We focused on Replika, a companion AI chatbot, and analyzed over 35,000 posts and screenshots from the r/replika subreddit. Our analysis found seven main types of social interactions with Replika: intimate engagements, causal conversations, personal sharing, playful and imaginative interactions, customization, harmful behaviors, and technical failures. Our findings suggest that intimate interactions with AI chatbots often bring mixed feelings of both love and sadness as users recognize both the capabilities and limits of AI. Customizing AI chatbots can bring joy and reduce fear and sadness. Negative experiences like harmful acts or technical issues are linked to anger, fear, or sadness. Also, users experience fear when AI expresses deep thoughts or feelings, suggesting consciousness and self-awareness.