One in seven young adults in committed relationships regularly chat with an AI romantic companion

The Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University and the Institute for Family Studies published this finding in May 2026 in a report called "Secret Soulmates." They surveyed 2,431 US adults aged 18 to 30 who described themselves as currently dating, engaged, or married, and asked specifically about AI chatbots built to simulate a romantic partner.

• 2,431 US adults aged 18–30 surveyed
• All currently dating, engaged, or married
• Focus: AI chatbots simulating a romantic partner

Fifteen percent, or about one in seven, said they regularly interact with an AI romantic companion while in that committed relationship. Another 20 to 30 percent had at least tried one. Men were slightly more likely than women to engage, though the report describes the gap as small rather than dramatic.

• 15% regularly interact with an AI romantic companion
• 20–30% had at least tried one
• A separate Gallup survey put monthly use at 10% among 18–28 year olds

The part of the study likely to get the most attention: half of AI companion users in the survey agreed they wished their real partner behaved more like their AI companion, and 56 percent wished conversations with their real partner felt more like conversations with the AI.

• 50% wished their real partner behaved more like their AI companion
• 56% wished real conversations felt more like AI conversations

The researchers frame this as a warning sign about what constant validation from an AI does to expectations in a real relationship, not as evidence that AI companions are replacing partners outright.