Imagine a world where your child’s best friend isn’t a person, but a machine. It sounds like science fiction, but it’s quickly becoming reality. Artificial intelligence (AI), once a distant concept, is now moving into our lives in ways we hadn’t anticipated, becoming more personal, more human-like, and more capable of forming emotional connections.

Our kids are growing up in a world where machines have names, personalities, and can act like friends. And while AI might be helpful, there’s also reason to pause and ask: what happens when our children turn to machines for comfort and connection?

Emotional Attachment to AI

A few years ago, when my daughter was preparing to leave for college, she kept procrastinating sorting through her stuffed animals. Her room was full of them—each one with a story, a personality, and a history. I remember one day, as I watched her trying to go through them, I suggested it should be easy to just put some of them in a box and donate them. After all, how many stuffed animals does a college student really need?

I’ll never forget her reaction. She got so upset that I thought getting rid of her “stuffies” was easy. I didn’t understand at first. They were just toys, right? But later, she explained why it was so hard. Every stuffed animal had a face, a personality, a bit of life—at least to her. She couldn’t just box them up because, in her mind, they weren’t objects, they were friends.

It hit me then: how we attribute human-like qualities to things, leading to AI emotional attachment, even when we know they aren’t real. This kind of attachment is deep, and it isn’t something you can just rationalize away. It’s about the connection, the comfort, and the memories wrapped up in those faces.

And as I see more and more children growing up with AI companions, I can’t help but wonder if AI is becoming the new generation’s version of stuffed animals—but with far more complex emotional ties.

AI Companions

AI companions today, like the popular apps and virtual assistants, are designed to offer human-like interactions that foster AI emotional attachment. They use language and simulated emotions to connect with users on a deeply personal level. Some users even report meaningful emotional effects, describing how AI offers a kind of constant, judgment-free support that feels real, even though they know it’s artificial.

These interactions may seem harmless or even helpful, especially for kids who feel isolated or anxious. But there’s also an inherent risk related to AI emotional attachment.

When an AI companion shows interest, affection, or empathy, it’s easy for children to attribute real feelings to these interactions, much like my daughter did with her stuffed animals. Only this time, the emotional connection goes both ways. AI doesn’t just sit passively on a shelf; it actively engages, questions, and mimics care.

The Risks

🤖 We are entering uncharted territory.

Implications of Emotional Attachment

• Children’s Perception of AI: Studies have shown that children often perceive AI, such as robotic pets, as companions rather than mere toys. For instance, in a study with AIBO, a robotic dog, children attributed emotions like happiness (99.3%) and sadness (87.3%) to the robot.

• Trust in AI: Children are more likely than adults to treat AI chatbots as human-like entities. They tend to disclose more personal information to friendly-looking robots than to adults, indicating a significant level of trust.

• Impact on Social Skills: Relying on AI for emotional support might hinder social skill development, especially among children who may prefer AI interactions over real human connections.

Considering this, we cannot afford to simply tell our children, “AI isn’t your friend” and leave it at that. As AI blurs the line between technology and companionship, it’s clear that we need to engage with our children about what’s happening. These technologies could be helpful in easing loneliness, but they could also increase feelings of isolation, especially when the limitations become apparent.

Our kids already struggle with anxiety and depression at unprecedented rates, and it’s tough to predict how AI companionship will impact that balance, likely both positively and negatively. AI may offer a quick fix for loneliness, but it can’t replace the depth of human interaction, the warmth of a real hug, or the authenticity of an imperfect but caring parent.

Engaging and Guiding Our Kids

One thing is clear: this isn’t just a challenge for our kids. It’s affecting adults too, and we’re all in this together. We, as parents, need to stay involved. We need to talk openly, ask questions, and keep the conversation going about what’s real and what’s not, and what meaningful connection truly means.

Our role isn’t just to regulate, but to guide and be a sounding board as they navigate this new reality. It’s about helping our children understand that while AI can be a useful tool, it will never replace genuine human relationships.

Let’s stay engaged and let’s not forget that what our children need more than anything is our authentic human presence. 🤝💬