Every day, more people are experimenting with Artificial Intelligence in their relationships. A study for marriage.com states that 44% of married couples on their research have consulted AI about their relationship and mostly millennials. The numbers change depending on the methodology but the trend suggest the use of it is growing.
Why are they using it for? Mostly to practice difficult conversations, to find the correct way of apologizing or to try to lower tensions and find solutions without hurting the other person. Many people say they feel more calmed or clear about the next step after chatting with ChatGPT. And even on early stages, young folks are also asking for help, but mostly to learn how to avoid conflicts or to write a breakup text. None of this can replace psychology or couples therapy, it just a digital tool that has become part of our daily life today along with mental health, emotional communication and romantic relationships.
A tool yes, but not “therapy”
We have to be very clear here, because a chatbot is not therapy nor treatment. Public health services and professionals are warning about this. AI can still give mistaken advice or skip high risk signals. But since technology is already here, academic investigation is staring to dig into what ChatGPT can and cannot do as a psychoeducational support for couples.
According to Marriage.com, a bot can give useful communication ideas, although not always and without a clinic guarantee. In surveys, a big part of participants feel better understood and more confident about what to do next; others say that the tone can be too generic on to “pleasant.” This mixed frame makes sense since this technology is still in early phases, and could be used as a support in couples relationships that are looking to improve their emotional communication without making the AI their therapist. The best use of it will be as a rehearsal; treating the chatbot like a nice mirror to practice all those things you want to say in person, reducing the anxiety and avoiding unnecessary conflicts. It’s a space that allows you to practice and organize your ideas, explore alternatives on the way you speak and get to a conclusion much calmer and less defensive, which is pretty valuable when the point is to protect the bond without losing honesty.
How to use Artificial Intelligence well
If you’re going to try, start slow and easy. Let AI help you to prepare your talk, but you have to make the decisions and always stay in the real context. Checking that the advice fits with your values and history. Apologies, boundaries and agreements for example, should be negotiated in person, face to face. And most importantly, catch the red flags: if at any point there’s violence, control, fear or serious symptoms with a partner, then a professional’ help is what’s needed, not a chatbot.
AI can help lower down the heat or find a few words when your mind is blank, but it certainly can’t evaluate real risks or take care of anyone. This, is what a human beings can actually provide. Either a friend to listen and give a hug to, or a therapist to help you annalize the situation without judgement.
A nice essay assistant
Artificial Intelligence can work as an assistant that will help you prepare your emocional essay, but then you have to sauce it out to make it yours.
So use it to prepare you like you would prepare a presentation that you’re nervous to do in front of people. But take the control of your choices and the AI suggestions light, remember that assistant is new on the job, so mistakes can happen.