Americans’ Emotional Ties to AI: What New Research Reveals

A fascinating trend is emerging in how U.S. adults interact with artificial intelligence (AI). Recent data from Barna’s ongoing Faith & AI research, in partnership with Gloo, reveals a surprising level of politeness in human-AI interactions.

In a recent survey, Barna asked U.S. adults who use AI through digital assistants (like Siri and Alexa) or chatbots (like ChatGPT) how they engage with the technology. Irrespective of their personal beliefs or understanding of AI, a strong number of respondents report sentiments that go beyond mere utility or functionality.

Many express feelings of empathy, a sense of connection and a sense of responsibility to exhibit kindness toward these AI tools. These trends point to a deeper, more complex reality: whether consciously or not, people are inclined to humanize AI.

The Humanization of AI
Nearly two in five U.S. adults say they at least somewhat feel a sense of connection when interacting with their digital assistant (38%), and that if they lose their patience with the software, they are being unkind (37%).

More notably, one in five says they feel these tools may be capable of having emotions, a belief that’s significantly stronger among Millennials compared to other generations.

These findings paint a picture of a society grappling with the increasing presence of AI in our daily lives. As this technology becomes more sophisticated and widespread, it seems many people are projecting human-like qualities onto AI, blurring the lines between digital tools and potential digital companions.

AI Relationships & the Loneliness Epidemic
This tendency to humanize AI may serve as a stark indicator of a more profound societal issue—a growing hunger for connection. In a world where loneliness has become a silent epidemic, are people turning to unconventional sources for companionship (even if that source is a string of prompts and algorithms)? It’s likely; over half of U.S. adults agree (17% strongly, 36% somewhat) that a person could develop an emotional connection with AI. Christians are less likely to agree strongly with this statement than non-Christians (15% vs. 20%, respectively).

This blurring of lines between a program and a personality doesn’t come without concerns. Most U.S. adults are also acutely aware of AI’s potential to impact the quality of human relationships, with almost half of this group (43%) saying this influence would be negative. Over half of U.S. parents (56%) even agree, “I worry that my child using AI might negatively impact their social skills.”

In an era where AI is rapidly integrating into daily life, it’s important not to ignore the implications on our social fabric and emotional well-being.

Here are some ways the Church can respond:

• Address loneliness—and offer faith community as a solution. This data highlights a deep need for human connection; let this motivate you to foster meaningful community through the local church and beyond. Bolster outreach efforts. Enhance your small group ministry. Encourage congregants to be more intentional about building lasting connections in faith community.
• Promote the value of human relationships. Even in this digital age, in-person interaction is still important. Offer a biblical perspective to relationships and community, showing the value of human connection to one’s faith walk and overall well-being
• Explore the ethics of AI from a Christian perspective. Be open about concerns or skepticism you might have about AI, while also emphasizing the importance of fully understanding the technology, its benefits and its limitations.
• Consider how you might answer the question of how to maintain human dignity in an increasingly AI-driven world. Point to credible resources that can help with this.