1 in 3 Britons Use AI for Emotional Support, Companionship, Social Interaction: Study

Researchers also studied a Reddit forum dedicated to discussing AI companions, finding that users reported symptoms of withdrawal during service outages.
1 in 3 Britons Use AI for Emotional Support, Companionship, Social Interaction: Study
A cellphone screen displays an AI logo on May 16, 2025, in this photo illustration. Oleksii Pydsosonnii /The Epoch Times
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One-third of people in the UK are using artificial intelligence (AI) for emotional support, companionship, and social interaction, according to a report from a government-backed institute published on Dec. 18.

The AI Security Institute (AISI) said that it found in its survey of 2,028 people that 33 percent had used AI for “emotional purposes”—a proportion that the report’s authors called a “substantial minority.”