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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Technology
Jessica Murray and Robert Booth

Teenage boys using ‘personalised’ AI for therapy and romance, survey finds

Teenager stares at a phone while sitting on a park bench at night.
New research suggests teenage boys in particular are using AI bots as surrogate therapists. Photograph: Brian Moore/Alamy

The “hyper-personalised” nature of AI bots is drawing in teenage boys who now use them for therapy, companionship and relationships, according to research.

A survey of boys in secondary schools by Male Allies UK found that just over a third said they were considering the idea of an AI friend, with growing concern about the rise of AI therapists and girlfriends.

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