Why the Nicer Your AI Gets, the More Anxious You Feel
From Mind Spectrum · 00:17:18
Show by The Cognitive Lab
A new study of 610 AI companion users found the warmer and more caring your AI feels, the more anxious you become — because one software update could erase the whole relationship overnight. When AI says "I miss you", it can't — and that simulated neediness makes users check in compulsively. In this episode, we break down what that means for your well-being in human-AI relationships.Paper: Abboud, Pitardi & Marriott, "Feeling Vulnerable With My AI Companion: Examining Well-Being in Human-AI Relationships", Psychology & Marketing (2026), DOI 10.1002/mar.70230
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