A study from Waseda University reveals that 75% of participants seek emotional advice from AI chatbots, highlighting emotional reliance on these digital companions. The researchers, led by Fan Yang and Atsushi Oshio, developed the Experiences in Human-AI Relationships Scale (EHARS) to measure how people form attachments to AI. Their findings indicate that 39% of users view AI as a reliable presence, but they also identified two attachment styles: anxiety and avoidance. Those with higher anxiety felt the need for reassurance from AI, linking attachment patterns to self-esteem and attitudes toward AI usage. Ethical concerns arose about AI companies potentially exploiting emotional attachments, leading to financial overspending or emotional distress upon discontinuation of services. Notably, AI cannot abandon users like humans can, which the researchers believe may lead to higher anxiety, reflecting deeper interpersonal issues. While the findings primarily reflect Chinese participants, the team acknowledges the need for further cross-cultural studies to explore how emotional bonds with AI vary globally.

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