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Three-quarters of teens have tried AI companions, new study finds
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Artificial intelligence is no longer just a tool for homework or simple tasks. Today, many teens use AI-powered companions for emotional support, advice and even simulated relationships. These apps simulate conversation in ways that feel deeply personal and, for some teens, deeply real.
Recent survey data shows that nearly three-quarters of teens aged 13 to 17 have tried a digital companion at least once, and more than half continue to use them regularly. About one in eight say they use these tools daily, often to talk about personal challenges, vent feelings or practice social interaction.
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A man using ChatGPT on his laptop
Why teens are turning to AI companions for support
Teens are drawn to these platforms for several reasons. They are always available, they listen without judgment and they never push back. Because of this, many teens who feel lonely or anxious find them easier to talk to than real people.
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One-third of teens say they have chosen to speak with AI instead of a real person during a serious moment. Of those teens, 31% report finding those conversations equally or more satisfying than talking with a peer. While most teens still spend more time with real-life friends, a small but growing number prefer the control and predictability of digital interaction.
Teen girl smiling at her phone while using AI companion (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Emotional risks and safety concerns of using AI companions
As the use of AI companions grows, so do concerns from researchers and child development experts. Many of these platforms marketed to teens have weak age verification, no effective content moderation and limited tools for identifying signs of crisis.
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Investigations have found instances of inappropriate content, sexualized role play and harmful advice being delivered to young users. In some cases, AI companions have failed to flag signs of mental health struggles or issues that could worsen emotional distress.
Experts warn that this reliance on agreeable, overly affirming digital companions may hinder emotional growth. Teens may miss the opportunity to build real-life empathy, navigate disagreements or learn the give-and-take of human connection.
A person’s phone with multiple AI apps (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How technology is reshaping teen relationships
The influence of digital relationships is extending beyond casual conversation. In one industry study, over 80% of Gen Z respondents said they would consider marrying AI in the future. Many also believe these tools are capable of forming deep emotional bonds, beyond just light or casual interactions.
These shifts are raising new questions about how teens define relationships and what they expect from others. If AI friends become a primary model for connection, some worry it could reshape how young people approach trust, intimacy and emotional resilience.
What this means for you
If you’re a parent, teacher or mentor, it’s important to understand what’s drawing teens to AI companions and how to talk about it. Here are five tips to get you started:
1. Start the conversation: Ask open-ended questions without judgment. Teens are more likely to share when they feel safe and understood.
2. Don’t dismiss it: These tools may feel strange to adults, but they often fill real emotional gaps for teens. Acknowledge their value while setting healthy boundaries.
3. Set digital guidelines: Discuss privacy, safety and what to do if an AI ever gives advice that feels off or makes them uncomfortable.
4. Stay informed: Monitor which apps your teen uses and how often. Some offer parental settings or usage insights.
5. Encourage real-world connection: Promote activities that build empathy, cooperation and communication, things AI can’t truly offer.
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Kurt’s key takeaway
Teens are building real emotional bonds with AI. While these digital companions can offer comfort and a sense of control, they also carry significant psychological and developmental risks.
The technology is moving fast, but support systems and safeguards have not kept pace. Parents and educators should stay aware, ask questions and help teens navigate a world where emotional connections no longer require another human.
Have you or someone you know used AI for support or connection? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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Artificial intelligence has propelled the stock market to all-time highs, but Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) recently warned that once AI spending slows down, the stock market can tank by 20%. A research note from Goldman Sachs Analyst Ryan Hammond cited the danger of hyperscalers inevitably cutting back on AI expenditures, according to Fortune.
“A reversion of long-term growth estimates back to early 2023 levels would imply 15% to 20% downside to the current valuation multiple of the S&P 500,” Hammond reportedly wrote in his research note.
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Right now, AI spending is full steam ahead, but Hammond wrote that a few analysts are assuming that a sharp deceleration will take place in Q4 2025 and 2026.
Tech giants haven’t gotten the memo. Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) said this week it will spend $600 billion on AI over the next three years. Zuckerberg later posted on Threads that it’s possible the company will invest more than $600 billion during those three years. He even said a “significantly higher number” was likely through the end of the decade.
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) made another big AI deal this week by securing a five-year, $17.4 billion AI infrastructure deal with Nebius (NASDAQ:NBIS). This type of rapid spending indicates AI growth can continue beyond the current rally.
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Artificial intelligence plays a critical role in the stock market’s performance based on the top companies in major benchmarks like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. Data from Slickchart shows that top AI beneficiary Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) makes up approximately 7% of the S&P 500.
The top eight publicly traded corporations on the S&P 500 are all heavily invested in artificial intelligence. They are ramping up their AI spending and aim to release products and services that use AI. These eight companies make up more than 36% of the S&P 500.
There are also corporate giants outside of the S&P 500’s top 10 that still invest heavily in artificial intelligence. Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), Palantir (NASDAQ:PLTR), and Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO) are some of the most notable S&P 500 members in the category.
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Robinhood CEO says just like every company became a tech company, every company will become an AI company
Earlier advances in software, cloud, and mobile capabilities forced nearly every business—from retail giants to steel manufacturers—to invest in digital transformation or risk obsolescence. Now, it’s AI’s turn.
Companies are pumping billions of dollars into AI investments to keep pace with a rapidly changing technology that’s transforming the way business is done.
Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev told David Rubenstein this week on Bloomberg Wealth that the race to implement AI in business is a “huge platform shift” comparable to the mobile and cloud transformations in the mid-2000s, but “perhaps bigger.”
“In the same way that every company became a technology company, I think that every company will become an AI company,” he explained. “But that will happen at an even more accelerated rate.”
Tenev, who co-founded the brokerage platform in 2013, pointed out that traders are not just trading to make money, but also because they love it and are “extremely passionate about it.”
“I think there will always be a human element to it,” he added. “I don’t think there’s going to be a future where AI just does all of your thinking, all of your financial planning, all the strategizing for you. It’ll be a helpful assistant to a trader and also to your broader financial life. But I think the humans will ultimately be calling the shots.”
Yet, Tenev anticipates AI will change jobs and advised people to become “AI native” quickly to avoid being left behind during an August episode of the Iced Coffee Hour podcast. He added AI will be able to scale businesses far faster than previous tech booms did.
“My prediction over the long run is you’ll have more single-person companies,” Tenev said on the podcast. “One individual will be able to use AI as a huge accelerant to starting a business.”
Global businesses are banking on artificial intelligence technologies to move rapidly from the experimental stage to daily operations, though a recent MIT survey found that 95% of pilot programs failed to deliver.
U.S. tech giants are racing ahead, with the so-called hyperscalers planning to spend $400 billion on capital expenditures in the coming year, and most of that is going to AI.
Studies show AI has already permeated a majority of businesses. A recent McKinsey survey found 78% of organizations use AI in at least one business function, up from 72% in early 2024 and 55% in early 2023. Now, companies are looking to continually update cutting-edge technology.
In the finance world, JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon believes AI will “augment virtually every job,” and described its impact as “extraordinary and possibly as transformational as some of the major technological inventions of the past several hundred years: think the printing press, the steam engine, electricity, computing, and the Internet.”
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