Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
publishedVersion
Publication Date
6-2025
Abstract
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes more integrated into daily life, individuals have increasingly turned to AIdriven systems for emotional support, companionship, and even romantic relationships. These relationships can be both beneficial and detrimental. Given the need for a comprehensive understanding of this phenomenon, this systematic review uses Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love to provide a holistic summary of its key potentials and pitfalls. A total of 23 articles were identified from the following databases: EBSCOhost ERIC, EBSCOhost PsycInfo, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Results highlighted the key potentials of being in a romantic relationship with AI companions as: the facilitation of personal growth and well-being, provision of emotional connection and perceived social support, availability of customisation options, ability to form a sexual connection, as well as a possible outlet for users to seek entertainment and stress-relieving companionship. However, the phenomenon also raises concerns, as it may lead to users’ over-reliance and susceptibility to manipulation from the chatbot, perceived shame from stigma surrounding romantic-AI companions, risk of personal data misuse, erosion of human relationships, perpetuation of biases, erosion of emotional connection from abrupt system updates and technical glitches, discomfort from uncanny valley effects, or concerns surrounding coercion to respond and early exposure to sexual content. This systematic review synthesises the dualedged nature of romantic relationships with AI companions, and outlines critical avenues for future research.
Keywords
Artificial intelligence, Chatbot, Romantic, Relationship, Companion, Potentials, Pitfalls
Discipline
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics | Psychology
Research Areas
Psychology
Areas of Excellence
Digital transformation
Publication
Computers in Human Behavior Reports
Volume
19
First Page
1
Last Page
19
ISSN
2451-9588
Identifier
10.1016/j.chbr.2025.100715
Publisher
Elsevier
Citation
HO, Qi Hui Jerlyn, HU, Meilan, CHEN, Tracy Xi, & HARTANTO, Andree.(2025). Potential and pitfalls of romantic Artificial Intelligence (AI) companions: A systematic review. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 19, 1-19.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/4213
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2025.100715