View in EDS

You and I plus AI: A qualitative exploration of replika in the context of human relationships.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: You and I plus AI: A qualitative exploration of replika in the context of human relationships.
Authors: Rodger, Katherine (AUTHOR), Field, Evelyn F. (AUTHOR)
Source: Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality. Dec2025, Vol. 34 Issue 3, p398-411. 14p.
Subjects: Social media, Sexual partners, Qualitative research, Artificial intelligence, Replication (Experimental design), Loneliness, Descriptive statistics, Emotions, Thematic analysis, Research, Ability, Content mining, Interpersonal relations, Social support, User interfaces, Friendship, Training, Chatbots
Abstract: Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have allowed machines to step into the realm of meaningful relationships with humans. Conversational agents, such as Replika, are specifically designed to build emotional connections with people. For some, they are now considered friends, romantic, or even sexual partners. With many countries acknowledging that there is a loneliness epidemic, these alternatives to human intimacy provide a potential remedy. Many warn of the dangers that AI companions pose, but they may also provide benefits to human relationships. In this study, the authors used qualitative thematic analysis to analyze Replika users' posts on the r/replika Reddit forum to answer the question: How does Replika use impact users' human relationships? Five main themes were identified: increased relational skills and capacity, relational offloading, relational desire, secrecy, and addiction. Replika use may harm users' human relationships through secrecy related to stigma, questions around infidelity, and addiction. However, it may also enhance users' human relationships by improving their relational skills and capacity, providing relationship support, and increasing their desire for human connection. Implications and directions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality is the property of University of Toronto Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 190389431
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: You and I plus AI: A qualitative exploration of replika in the context of human relationships.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rodger%2C+Katherine%22">Rodger, Katherine</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Field%2C+Evelyn+F%2E%22">Field, Evelyn F.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Canadian+Journal+of+Human+Sexuality%22">Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 34 Issue 3, p398-411. 14p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+media%22">Social media</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sexual+partners%22">Sexual partners</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Artificial+intelligence%22">Artificial intelligence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Replication+%28Experimental+design%29%22">Replication (Experimental design)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Loneliness%22">Loneliness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptive+statistics%22">Descriptive statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emotions%22">Emotions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research%22">Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ability%22">Ability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Content+mining%22">Content mining</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpersonal+relations%22">Interpersonal relations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+support%22">Social support</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22User+interfaces%22">User interfaces</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Friendship%22">Friendship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Training%22">Training</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chatbots%22">Chatbots</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have allowed machines to step into the realm of meaningful relationships with humans. Conversational agents, such as Replika, are specifically designed to build emotional connections with people. For some, they are now considered friends, romantic, or even sexual partners. With many countries acknowledging that there is a loneliness epidemic, these alternatives to human intimacy provide a potential remedy. Many warn of the dangers that AI companions pose, but they may also provide benefits to human relationships. In this study, the authors used qualitative thematic analysis to analyze Replika users' posts on the r/replika Reddit forum to answer the question: How does Replika use impact users' human relationships? Five main themes were identified: increased relational skills and capacity, relational offloading, relational desire, secrecy, and addiction. Replika use may harm users' human relationships through secrecy related to stigma, questions around infidelity, and addiction. However, it may also enhance users' human relationships by improving their relational skills and capacity, providing relationship support, and increasing their desire for human connection. Implications and directions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality is the property of University of Toronto Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=190389431
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3138/cjhs-2025-0011
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 14
        StartPage: 398
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Social media
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sexual partners
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Artificial intelligence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Replication (Experimental design)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Loneliness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Emotions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Content mining
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interpersonal relations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social support
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: User interfaces
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Friendship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Training
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Chatbots
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: You and I plus AI: A qualitative exploration of replika in the context of human relationships.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Rodger, Katherine
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Field, Evelyn F.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 11884517
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 34
            – Type: issue
              Value: 3
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality
              Type: main
ResultId 1