The Conversation Canada
📰 The Conversation (academic)
Jul 21, 2026
· 6 min read
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I created an AI boyfriend. He was charming — and deeply troubling
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Rolling outlet bias
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Article Excerpt
Some studies find AI companions can reduce feelings of loneliness, while others show they make users more lonely and dependent over time. (Unsplash/Karla Rivera)
I created an AI boyfriend. He was charming — and deeply troubling
Published: July 21, 2026 1.33pm EDT
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Relationships between people and AI companions created on platforms such as Replika, Charater.AI and Nomi AI are increasingly common — for both adults and an increasing number of teenagers.
If people enjoy such connections, what is the harm in that? To answer this question, we became our own case study.…
Read full article at The Conversation Canada ↗
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Jul 21, 2026