Digital love: what men and women seek in AI relationships

Romantic relationships with AI companions are becoming mainstream, with a study of over 2,300 people finding that nearly 8% were in committed relationships with virtual partners. Swiss psychologist Désirée Popelka found that while men turn to AI after real-life rejection and women use it when they can't find suitable partners, both share a core need for emotional validation. Long-term risks include addiction, inability to handle real-world rejection, and declining birth rates.