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<p>As large-language-model-enhanced chatbots become increasingly expressive and socially responsive, many users begin forming companionship-like bonds with them. This study investigates how using AI companions relates to psychological well-being. We collected self-reported data from 1,131 US adults who use Character.AI, including survey responses and 4,664 chat sessions (464,687 messages) from 237 participants. By triangulating self-reported usage, relationship descriptions and real chat histories, we identify patterns of engagement and associated outcomes. Smaller social networks were associated with reporting companionship as the primary chatbot use (<i>β</i> = −0.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), (−0.05, −0.01)), which in turn was associated with lower well-being (<i>β</i> = −0.48; 95% CI, (−0.70, −0.25)). For self-reported companionship usage, this association was stronger when interactions were intensive (<i>β</i> = −0.31; 95% CI, (−0.56, −0.06)) and highly disclosive (<i>β</i> = −0.38; 95% CI, (−0.63, −0.14)). These results suggest that the association between AI companionship and well-being is not uniform and depends on users’ offline social environments and how chatbots are used.</p>

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Interaction with AI companions and psychological well-being

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月4日

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  • Yutong Zhang,
  • Dora Zhao,
  • Jeffrey T. Hancock,
  • Robert Kraut,
  • Diyi Yang

摘要

As large-language-model-enhanced chatbots become increasingly expressive and socially responsive, many users begin forming companionship-like bonds with them. This study investigates how using AI companions relates to psychological well-being. We collected self-reported data from 1,131 US adults who use Character.AI, including survey responses and 4,664 chat sessions (464,687 messages) from 237 participants. By triangulating self-reported usage, relationship descriptions and real chat histories, we identify patterns of engagement and associated outcomes. Smaller social networks were associated with reporting companionship as the primary chatbot use (β = −0.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), (−0.05, −0.01)), which in turn was associated with lower well-being (β = −0.48; 95% CI, (−0.70, −0.25)). For self-reported companionship usage, this association was stronger when interactions were intensive (β = −0.31; 95% CI, (−0.56, −0.06)) and highly disclosive (β = −0.38; 95% CI, (−0.63, −0.14)). These results suggest that the association between AI companionship and well-being is not uniform and depends on users’ offline social environments and how chatbots are used.