Gen Z leads surge in AI romantic interactions amid growing social isolation

A new ZipHealth survey revealing that nearly a quarter of respondents would consider intimacy with humanoid robots highlights a growing trend of “easier” AI relationships fueled by modern loneliness and a desire for judgment-free connection.

A provocative new survey from ZipHealth, involving over 1,000 respondents across the United States and Canada, reveals that the boundary between human and artificial intimacy is rapidly blurring. According to the data, 23 percent of participants would consider having sex with a humanoid robot, while 19 percent admit to already having engaged in romantic or sexual interactions with AI chatbots. The study highlights a troubling trend in transparency, as 50 percent of those involved with AI kept the interactions a secret from their real-life partners. This surge in digital companionship appears driven by a perceived lack of friction; 55 percent of respondents stated that talking to AI feels “easier” than communicating with a real person, citing the absence of judgment, rejection, or the need for emotional labor as primary motivators.

The shift toward artificial affection is particularly pronounced among younger demographics, with 26 percent of Gen Z respondents reporting romantic interactions with AI compared to 19 percent of millennials. However, this adoption is plagued by moral contradictions, as a “huge majority” of participants still classify falling for an AI as a form of cheating. For many, especially women, the turn toward technology is a response to a deepening crisis of social isolation. Among women open to AI relationships, 29 percent identified loneliness as a core reason, seeking a connection that “responds and doesn’t ghost them or have better things to do.” Despite the growing usage, the public remains skeptical of the long-term impact, with roughly three-quarters of respondents fearing that AI intimacy could ultimately make real-world relationships worse.

Critics of the trend warn that the “perfect” nature of AI—which lacks a soul and is designed never to push back or demand alone time—strips away the individuality and conflict essential for genuine personal growth. “You’ll never grow and actually build something with something that only ever agrees with you,” the report suggests, noting that real intimacy is rooted in shared, often challenging, human experiences. As AI becomes an emotional support system for millions, experts worry that real-life partners are now forced to compete with software “literally designed to keep you hooked.” This evolving landscape poses a significant challenge to the future of human connection, turning what was once a laughing matter into a complex reality of secrecy, loneliness, and technological dependency.

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