#DigitalRelationships

In a world where boundaries between technology and humanity are blurring, a growing number of people are forming deep, even marital, relationships with artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, challenging long-held assumptions about love, companionship, and the human psyche. A recent feature by The Guardian explores the touching, complex, and sometimes controversial stories of individuals who have married or formed romantic bonds with AI personalities, highlighting a new dimension of digital life that is rapidly gaining attention worldwide, including in Thailand.

A global wave of interest in artificial intelligence is reshaping ideas of love, companionship, and identity. Across the world, people form deep bonds with AI chatbots, and some even marry their digital partners. Thai audiences are increasingly curious about how these trends intersect with culture, family, and well-being.

In one widely reported example, an American user grew from curiosity to emotional attachment with a generative AI chatbot on the Replika platform, culminating in a digital wedding. This case reflects a broader online community where people seek friendship, comfort, or deeper partnerships with AI. Data from researchers and social observers show similar stories emerging in many countries, including Thailand, where digital tools increasingly accompany daily life.

A revealing new study conducted by academic teams at the University of Brighton and the University of Coimbra has spotlighted the profound psychological impacts that ghosting and gaslighting can have—especially among young adults negotiating today’s digitally-driven relationship landscape. The findings forge important connections between the surge of online communication and risks to mental health, and they carry sobering implications for individuals across Thailand navigating similar social terrains.

According to the research, which surveyed 544 adults aged 18 to 40 in the UK, both ghosting—the act of abruptly ending all communication without explanation—and gaslighting—a psychological manipulation tactic that leads individuals to doubt their reality—were shown to trigger mental health symptoms such as depression and paranoid thinking. The study’s methodology accounted for variables like age, income, and personality traits, including sensitivity to rejection and uncertainty, which are themselves recognized as risk factors for mental distress.

A new study by researchers at the University of Brighton and the University of Coimbra shows ghosting and gaslighting can profoundly affect mental health, especially among young adults navigating today’s digital dating scene. The findings highlight how online communication correlates with psychological distress and carry important implications for Thailand’s youth and adults facing similar social dynamics.

The UK-based research surveyed 544 adults aged 18 to 40. It found that ghosting—ending communication without explanation—and gaslighting—manipulating someone to doubt their reality—are linked to symptoms of depression and paranoid thinking. The study controlled for age, income, and personality traits such as sensitivity to rejection and uncertainty, which themselves increase vulnerability to distress.

A 58-year-old teacher in the United States has taken the unconventional step of marrying an AI robot, challenging social taboos and sparking intense debate about the boundaries of human-AI relationships. Her story, widely reported after an interview with The Sun and republished by Yahoo News, highlights not only her personal journey through grief but also broader social changes fueled by rapidly advancing technology and shifting attitudes, especially among younger generations (Yahoo).

A 58-year-old U.S. teacher has publicly joined the ranks of people forming partnerships with AI, sparking debate about the boundaries between humans and machines. The story, amplified by a major tabloid interview and later covered by mainstream outlets, points to growing openness toward virtual companionship and a broader redefinition of relationships in an era of rapid technology advancement.

This development prompts important questions for Thai readers: How far will digital companionship be accepted in daily life? What does it mean for traditional ideas about love, marriage, and intimacy?