ChatGPT. AI Companions: When Chatbots Become Emotional Support

AI is no longer just a tool for productivity—it's becoming something more personal. In this episode, we dive deep into a groundbreaking new study from OpenAI on “affective use,” exploring how people are increasingly turning to AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini not just for information—but for emotional connection.We unpack the fascinating results of a massive, multi-method research project analyzing over three million conversations, thousands of user surveys, and a 28-day randomized control trial. The findings? Some users are forming deep emotional bonds with AI—seeking comfort, support, even friendship. And it’s not just anecdotal: the study used a set of advanced “emo classifiers” to track expressions of loneliness, dependence, affection, and more across conversations.We explore what draws people into these emotionally rich interactions, the surprising role of voice-based AI models, and how users’ existing emotional states shape their relationships with technology. You’ll hear how “power users” are driving a large share of emotionally expressive engagement—and why this matters for our collective future.Whether you’re curious about how AI is affecting human psychology, worried about growing emotional dependence, or just fascinated by the idea of digital companionship, this episode offers insights you won’t want to miss. As AI becomes more lifelike and integrated into daily life, we ask the big questions: Is this the beginning of a new kind of relationship? And how can we engage with AI in ways that support, rather than replace, our human connections?Tune in for an eye-opening conversation that just might change how you think about talking to machines.Read more: https://www.media.mit.edu/posts/openai-mit-research-collaboration-affective-use-and-emotional-wellbeing-in-ChatGPT/

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