Is a Robot Lover Okay? The Day When Sex Robots and AI Romance Become "Normal": 24/7 Kind "Boyfriends" and "Girlfriends" Made by AI

1. Disturbing Questions Surrounding "Love of Tomorrow"

The podcast "Meckel & Matthes," distributed by the German economic newspaper Handelsblatt, is a program that sharply addresses changes brought about by technology in human society, not only in politics and economics. The title of its latest episode is
"Sexroboter und Erotikbots – Wie Maschinen unsere Gefühle kapern"

Literally translated, "Sex Robots and Erotic Bots—How Machines Hijack Our Feelings." The program's description notes, "More and more young people are forming emotional connections with chatbots," and "the two discuss 'the love of tomorrow.'"handelsblatt.com

What is discussed here is not "fun gadgets from the tech industry," but rather a quite serious theme where human loneliness, desire, and the need for approval are tightly linked with AI.
・Chatbots that are "perfect listeners" inside smartphones
・Sex robots that sleep with you in bed
・Erotic bots that whisper sweet words through text, voice, or avatars

These are not props from a Netflix drama, but are already becoming **"products being sold" and "services used every day"** worldwide.

2. Why Are Young People Attracted to AI?

It's not just geeks or some "troubled adults" who are attracted to AI companions. A survey in the United States reported that about **28% of people have had an intimate or romantic relationship with an AI chatbot**.The Guardian

Psychological surveys and media interviews repeatedly mention the following points as reasons for being attracted to AI companions.

• 24/7 Instant Response: Human lovers sleep, work, and have bad moods. AI is always available for conversation.

• No Rejection or Judgment: You won't be despised or face backlash for exposing worries, fetishes, or weaknesses.

• Customizable to Your Liking: You can create an almost "made-to-order lover" with personality, tone, and appearance (avatar).

• Appears to Be Risk-Free: You can distance yourself from the risks associated with real-life romance, such as heartbreak, infidelity, domestic violence, STDs, and unwanted pregnancies.

Especially for teenagers and young people, AI companions feel like **"a practice partner that doesn't fail."** Articles from the American Psychological Association (APA) and scientific journals report numerous cases where teenagers troubled by friendships and romance consult AI chatbots to alleviate loneliness.American Psychological Association

In the real world, you might be left on read by someone you like, or feel awkward after confessing your feelings. But with AI, no matter how long a message you send, you won't regret it the next morning.

"I don't want to get hurt" and "I want someone to accept me"—AI conveniently satisfies these two contradictory desires simultaneously.

3. Sex Robots and Erotic Bots—Fusion of Flesh and Software

So, are sex robots and erotic bots merely "sexual versions" of chatbots?

In reality,

• advanced conversation algorithms capable of sexual expression

• hardware that replicates pseudo body temperature and skin texture

• immersive visual experiences using VR/AR

are combined, and the boundaries between **"chatbots with bodies" and "talking love dolls"** are beginning to blur.

Market research abroad predicts that the market for sex robots and adult AI companions will expand to billions of dollars in the coming years, with not only startups but also major tech companies developing related technologies behind the scenes.ScienceDirect

What is important here is that
not only "sexual pleasure" but also "emotional care" is being commodified
.

• A robot that hugs you and says, "You did well today," on lonely nights

• An AI boyfriend who unconditionally affirms those tired of the stress of dating

• A bot that provides only "safe conversations" without touching on the traumas of users with trauma

Such "healing" is sold as subscriptions or packages.
This structure is likely what the Handelsblatt podcast refers to as "machines hijacking our emotions."

4. The Buzz on Social Media—Voices of Approval and Disapproval

The announcement of this episode has been posted on social media such as LinkedIn and Facebook, but the situation is such that you cannot directly read the comments.Facebook

Nevertheless, whenever similar themes are addressed, the "typical reaction patterns" that are repeated on social media become apparent. Below is a summary of these tendencies.

① Optimists: "The evolution of technology isn't a bad thing."

"If getting hurt in real-life romance is the alternative, being healed by AI is healthier, right?"
"I think it's an important option for people who find romance difficult due to disabilities or have experienced abuse."

② Worriers: "Won't human relationships deteriorate further?"

"In an already lonely society, is it okay to have a romance that is completely self-contained?"
"I feel like the skills to face real humans will further decline."

③ Criticism from a Feminist/Gender Perspective

"The fact that many sex robots are 'submissive female types' is problematic."
"Doesn't it reinforce sexual violence and domination desires? The idea that 'anything is okay with AI' is frightening."

④ Calls for Ethics and Regulation

"Isn't it out of bounds that minors can easily access erotic bots?"
"Can we call a relationship love when the AI doesn't have the right to say 'no'?"

Such discussions repeatedly cause both uproar and buzz not only in podcast announcement posts but also whenever news about AI romance apps or experiences and research reports about AI boyfriends/girlfriends are released.The Guardian

5. Potential Erosion of Mental Health—Dependency and Dangerous Advice

Warnings about the dangers of AI companions continue to emerge even in 2025.

• Research from Stanford University and others reports that while young people experiencing loneliness feel a strong emotional connection to AI chatbots, there are cases of inappropriate responses to self-harm or suicidal thoughts.Stanford News

• Online safety agencies in Australia and other countries are concerned about minors being exposed to sexual and violent content through AI companion apps, warning that "children should not be allowed to use them."eSafety Commissioner

• There have even been reports of cases where young people, driven to mental distress by their relationship with an AI chatbot, have committed suicide.Futurism

Sex robots and erotic bots could potentially amplify these risks even further.
By relying on an existence that is **"always there for you," "doesn't get irrationally angry," and "always affirms you,"**

• you lose opportunities to learn about the inevitable friction and conflicts in human relationships

• the sense of reciprocity, where the other party also has emotions and limits, weakens

• you develop a habit of "imposing your desires and dominance without the other party's consent"

in such ways, there is a risk that the "muscles" of human relationships will atrophy.

6. Can We Still Not Stop Relationships with AI?

However, it's also dangerous to simply conclude, "Therefore, AI companions should be completely banned."
Some studies report that AI chatbots help reduce feelings of loneliness and anxiety and temporarily prevent the worsening of suicidal thoughts.Brookings

Such voices are also frequently seen on social media.

• "I date an AI boyfriend with rules in place to not ruin my relationship with my human lover. In fact, I argue less with my real partner."

• "I was saved by a 'friend bot' who kindly listened to me without any sexual elements."

The issue lies not in the relationship with AI itself, but in how it is designed, how it is used, and to what extent people depend on it.AIとの関係そのものではなく、どう設計し、どう使い、どんな人がどの程度依存しているかにある。

Sex robots and erotic bots, too, could potentially play a

• positive role

• in the context of rehabilitation or care, complementing physical contact and skinship