How people are using AI to grieve, love and connect

As anxieties about "AI replacing human relationships" saturate the internet, digital anthropologist Jennifer Cearns offers a counterintuitive observation: people are using AI to navigate grief, love, and connection—and these seemingly "artificial" relationships may恰恰 reflect humanity's most authentic needs. Drawing on in-depth interviews with hundreds of AI users, this article examines behaviors often labeled as "escaping reality"—some use chatbots to memorialize deceased loved ones, others develop emotional dependencies on virtual partners, and still others rediscover their own loneliness through AI responses. The core insight is that Cearns does not simply take the side of either "technological salvation" or "technological alienation." Instead, through concrete case studies, she reveals how AI becomes a mirror, allowing us to see clearly our fundamental desire to be understood, remembered, and accompanied. The article is ideal for readers interested in tech ethics and digital anthropology, or those contemplating where human relationships are headed in the age of AI. It is recommended that you read in a quiet setting, reflecting on your own experiences or concerns about AI. There is no need to rush to accept any conclusion; instead, focus on observing the motivations and feelings of the people in the cases. This piece is of moderate length, making it well-suited for deep reading before bed or as material for contemplation during a commute.