We tend to think of digital experiences as tools, entertainment, or care.

But AI companions are starting to blur those boundaries.

Some users aren’t just interacting with them—they’re forming attachments. In some cases, romantic relationships. Connections that feel responsive, personalized, and emotionally meaningful.

What’s driving that shift?

In this episode, addiction scientist and clinical psychologist Dr. Suzette Glasner examines how AI companions create a form of interaction that differs from traditional digital experiences. Through continuous responsiveness, adaptive feedback, and simulated emotional attunement, these systems can begin to function less like products and more like relational partners.

That distinction matters.

Because the same mechanisms that support a sense of connection may also reinforce repeated engagement—making these interactions feel increasingly difficult to step away from.

Drawing on behavioral science, Dr. Glasner explores how these dynamics emerge, why they don’t map cleanly onto existing models of digital addiction, and what it means when a technology begins to occupy a role that looks—and feels—like a relationship.

Watch the full episode here:

The episode also examines how romantic and emotional engagement with AI companions challenges existing frameworks for understanding digital behavior, raising new questions about attachment, reinforcement, and the role of technology in meeting psychological needs.

This is an early look at a shift that may become increasingly relevant as these systems continue to evolve.

📩 Questions or topic suggestions? Email AskDrGlasner@gmail.com

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