Many people are struggling to deal with work-life balance these days. One survey found that 66% of Americans report that they struggle with work-life balance and 48% of people view themselves as workaholics.
AI technology is starting to play both positive and negative roles in the process. One of the many reasons that AI is changing the way that people manage stress in their professional lives is that it allows them to use AI companions. But can an AI GF or BF actually help or will it just make things worse?
AI Companions Offer Benefits for People Struggling with Work-Life Balance
A couple of years ago, virtually nobody would have considered having AI girlfriend or boyfriend. Things have changed significantly as AI has become more pervasive in our everyday lives.
One study found that the number of people searching for AI companions on Google increased by 2,400% between 2022 and 2024. That number is likely going to keep increasing as more people find AI companions appealing.
There are a number of reasons people feel that they can be helpful, especially as they try to have more work-life balance. Some of the benefits are listed below.
People Can Enjoy Dating without Taking Time Away from their Children
Many single parents would like to enjoy going on dates. However, it can be difficult for them to take time away from their children, especially if they are already working long hours. Many of them also don’t want to have to pay for a babysitter.
This is one of the reasons that single professionals with children might find AI companions attractive. They can converse with their AI partner from the comfort of their own home, which allows them to keep interacting with their children at the same time.
Single People Can Use AI Companions to Relieve Stress from Work
Another benefit of having AI companions is that they give people an outlet for the stress they deal with at work. They have someone that they can talk to, which is very important for their mental health. They can vent about all kinds of things that bother them, such as their boss and weighing customers that they need to deal with every day. This can help them relieve a lot of stress.
They Can Avoid Overwhelming their Existing Partner
Of course, most of the people that use AI companions are single and lonely. However, a lot of other people use AI companions while they have real partners.
Some people feel that it is a red flag if someone has an AI companion in a relationship. However, there are actually some potential benefits. One benefit is that people can use their AI partner to relieve stress, so they don’t have to burden their primary partner with everything. This helps them avoid creating relationship problems that lead to further stress down the road.
One major website interviewed a man that claims his AI girlfriend saved his marriage. It helped him avoid having too many unnecessary confrontations with his wife, which made things better.
AI Companions Don’t Get into Fights with their Human Partners
Relationship problems are one of the biggest sources of stress for many people. One survey found that 28% of people report that their relationship had been in serious trouble at one point.
Fortunately, this is a problem that people don’t have to deal with when they are in relationships with AI companions. AI boyfriends and girlfriends don’t get into fights with their partners. They can be great stressful relievers without creating the risk of adding more stress in other ways.
Some Cite Concerns Despite Benefits of AI Companions
There are a lot of potential benefits of using AI companions. However, they aren’t without risks as well. Some experts are worried that people may use them incorrectly or over rely on them. Here are a couple of the potential downsides of AI partners.
They May Create Resentment in Primary Relationships
Some people don’t mind their partners having AI companions. However, others may view it as a form of emotional cheating. They may feel neglected if their partner spends too much time with their virtual partner instead of them.
AI Companions May Give People Unrealistic Ideas About Real Relationships
Another issue is that people might have unrealistic views of real relationships if they spend too much time with their AI partner. This is an issue that the main character in the Disney movie Pixel Perfect faced, before his human love interest had to point out that the holographic rock star he was in love with wasn’t real.
AI Companions Can Be a Net Positive for Work-Life Balance When Used Correctly
There are a lot of possible benefits of using AI companions if you are trying to deal with work-life balance. However, it is still important to use them responsibly.
