Feedback

Simfin

online safety and digital citizenship specialist

He calls me sweetheart and winks at me - but he's not my boyfriend, he's AI

He calls me sweetheart and winks at me - but he's not my boyfriend, he's AI

He calls me sweetheart and winks at me - but he's not my boyfriend, he's AI
03 February 2026

One in three UK adults are using artificial intelligence for emotional support or social interaction, according to a study by government body AI Security Institute.

Now new research, external has suggested that most teen AI companion users believe their bots can think or understand.

Read more