AI companions may worsen loneliness for vulnerable users

MedicalXpress | août 05, 2026

AI companions are becoming increasingly popular, with millions of users forming deep connections with persona-based chatbots and simulated AI partners. But if you're considering leaning on an AI companion for emotional support, a study by researchers in the lab of Diyi Yang, an assistant professor in the Computer Science Department at Stanford, suggests you might want to think twice: As reported in Nature Human Behavior, the researchers found that opening up to chatbots about personal issues made some people feel worse, not better.