Reliance on AI companions is concerning: Expert

July 18, 2025 74

Projects and Structures Coordinator at the Psychological Society of SA, Muhammed Cassim, says teenagers turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for companionship shows that young people feel disconnected from the real world.

His remarks come after a report by a United States (US) based non-profit organisation, Common Sense Media, found that nearly three in four American teenagers have used AI companions.

The research revealed that about 72% of US teenagers, between the ages of 13–17, have used AI companions.

AI companions are chatbots that are designed for personal conversations rather than simple task completion, like AI assistants that just answer questions.

The most common ones include Character.AI, Replika, Woebot, Kuki and Xiaoice, amongst others.

While in conversation with YNews, Cassim intimated that while we live in a technological world, it’s concerning to see young people lose social skills.

Lead author of the study and head of research at Common Sense Media, Michael Robb, says the 13–17 age is a sensitive time of social development and agrees that it is indeed worrying that young people are taking a liking to the idea of having AI companions.

“We don’t want kids to feel like they should be confiding or going to AI companions in lieu of a friend, a parent or a qualified professional, especially when they need help with serious issues,” says Robb.

He says chatbots can never make good friends, as they can’t model healthy human relationships.

Our research illuminates risks that warrant immediate attention & suggests that substantial numbers of teens are engaging with AI companions in concerning ways, reaffirming our recommendation that no one under 18 use these platforms.

— Common Sense Media (@CommonSense) July 16, 2025

Cassim believes that healthy and responsible use of social media/devices need to be prioritised as that can assist in preventing young people turning to chatbots to substitute real relationships.

The expert says even though the research was done in the US, the “rapidly worrying trend” is also seen in South Africa.

Cassim believes that parents and guardians need to play a bigger role in encouraging their children to consider focusing on other activities that can help with their development.

He says young people need to look up from their screens and work on building real human relationships.

With the introduction of AI companions, AI companies are encouraging people to opt out of all those difficulties we face in living with other human beings – replacing them with virtual surrogates that are built to flatter us.

This will unleash so many unintended consequences. pic.twitter.com/cTdUKmLI93

— Ewan Morrison (@MrEwanMorrison) July 16, 2025

Do not engage in the loneliness of “AI Companions”.

With the tools of the Gods and with great fortune, you can have a partner in your life.

It takes practice to bond with other humans, trial and error, but it’s the true way.

“Companions” are the epitome of loneliness. pic.twitter.com/9Wow4s3fke

— Lord Zeus (@LordBaalzebul) July 16, 2025

This is very dangerous.

There is no such thing as artificial intelligence “companions.”

There is alienation.

There is loneliness.

There is despondency.

An on-demand cartoon fantasy created by some nerdy programmer is *not* the solution to any of these spiritual challenges. https://t.co/zWEebULXM0

— Natasha Montreal (@NatashaMontreal) July 16, 2025