r/technology • u/WorldTravelerBoss • Jul 15 '26

Artificial Intelligence The terrifying rise of schoolboys making AI girlfriends. Boys as young as 12 are now in romantic ‘relationships’ with chatbots, and it’s affecting how they treat girls in the real world.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/25/schoolboys-ai-girlfriends/
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579

u/Shiro_no_Orpheus Jul 15 '26

I will be real with you, if 12yo me had access to modern AI, I would have also done the same. Think about how affection starved 12yo boys are.

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u/[deleted] Jul 15 '26

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u/Beer-Milkshakes Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26

Why don't you go out there and try to talk to people though?

Like not at the gym though, people are just trying to work out.
Not at the supermarket though, because people are just trying to shop.
Not at the bar though because people might just be trying to decompress in their third space.
Not at a concert though because they're expensive and they just want to see the show.
Not at work though because thats a whole thing.
Do not approach people on the street because thats fucking weird.

So, erm.. what about those chatbots?

Edit: ive had quite a few nasty replies to me which have suddenly become unavailable

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u/DigNitty Jul 15 '26

I lived with two girls in college. They ranted once about how annoying, how exhausting it was to go to bars and be hit on constantly. They just want to have a good time and not be bothered.

I vented once about modern dating. It’s tough for guys to organically start a conversation and turn it into a potential date opportunity.

My roommates’ unironic suggestion….straight faced proposal that “just go to a bar, it’s an easy.”

Thanks, but it actually sucks to be “that guy.”

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u/RaspberryTwilight Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26

I'm one of those people who wants to be left alone. I'm not even an introvert. It's because I'm tired and I have a million things to do. I do not have the time or energy to invest in more people right now. I think if life was easier then a lot of people would be more motivated to socialize.

Also people used to have a few drinks socially to make them more outgoing but they don't anymore. Because nobody is going to drink that second beer if they know they will be on camera if they say something stupid.

Like once when I was young, I fell in slow motion, knocking over the hanger holding everyone's coats and the people in the room thought it was the funniest thing ever, I would have become a viral video had they recorded it.

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u/baconator955 Jul 15 '26

Jesus reading this felt like a warm hug that was long overdue. Just went through it with a friend who legit does not understand having a tight schedule, lots of things to do and little energy to socialize. and took it real personal that I'm not in touch as often. I swear im not an asshole i'm just busy.

Lol completely off topic anyway. Have a good one

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u/TAKEitTOrCIRCLEJERK Jul 15 '26

1: the odds that any video ever goes viral are very very low

2: and even if it did… that’s fucking hilarious. own it!

13

u/sulphuriy Jul 15 '26

Exactly. Kids have schools to socialize, adults barely have options.

Maybe try to be more friendly instead of attacking at people for using AI to talk to, most living humans aren’t willing to commit.

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u/lzwzli Jul 15 '26

Schools are for learning! How can you learn if all you do is socialize!

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u/[deleted] Jul 15 '26

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u/TAKEitTOrCIRCLEJERK Jul 15 '26

this is you convincing yourself of a false reality to give yourself an excuse not to try.

90% of men are not summarily ignored by women. you’re making things up.

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u/KeyMyBike Jul 15 '26

The Halo effect is real. I benefit from it daily and fully acknowledge how undeserving I am. All because my genetics are arranged in an aesthetically pleasing manner, I have to put in less effort than my peers? Bullshit. What a load of fucking bullshit.

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u/TAKEitTOrCIRCLEJERK Jul 15 '26

did you mean to respond to someone else? bc I never said “hot people don’t have it easier than ugly people”

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u/Krislazz Jul 15 '26

Bar and concert might be acceptable, ymmv.

In case someone actually needs to read this:
Go somewhere people do hobbies, volunteering etc., activities that you enjoy. And don’t do it for the sake of getting laid, but actually meet people.

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u/vthemechanicv Jul 15 '26

And don’t do it for the sake of getting laid, but actually meet people.

I don't want to meet people, I want to get laid.

your advice isn't wrong exactly, but it's saying if you're craving spaghetti, start planting some wheat. At some point in the indefinite future it's possible you'll be able to make some flour.

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u/Krislazz Jul 15 '26

Sure, in that case go clubbing. That’s one arena I can think of where it’s socially acceptable to try to pick up people at random for a night. But in order to pull that off, and not get rejected as weird, you still need to practice normal and not-sex-oriented interactions in those other spaces.

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u/vthemechanicv Jul 15 '26

I want to clarify, even though i couched it in snark in my comment, I do agree with you. If you want to find a healthy relationship, you want to foster your personality, which is through hobbies and interests, aka growing wheat.

WRT sex, if you haven't found someone by a certain time, you age out of clubs (never my thing anyway) and dating apps are scams, which mostly leaves you with abject loneliness. This article might be about children, but I'd bet there's a lot of grown ass adults using AI specifically to fill that hole.

0

u/TAKEitTOrCIRCLEJERK Jul 15 '26

that’s how human interaction around sex has always worked forever

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u/Poor_Richard Jul 15 '26

Not to be a dick, but no it hasn't. It was worse, but in a much different way.

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u/TAKEitTOrCIRCLEJERK Jul 15 '26

no, you’re just wrong, brother. in the vast vast vast majority of cases, having sex has taken a ton of mental and physical and emotional effort

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u/[deleted] Jul 15 '26

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u/vthemechanicv Jul 15 '26

None of this is the same as what my parents or grandparents experienced.

I wonder if it's a 'too many options' situation. I'm speaking as a 49 year old, our parents and grand parents knew maybe 10 or 20 people, and even less the further back you go. You married your high school sweetheart because that's practically the only person you knew. Now, with schools having hundreds of kids per grade, colleges with tens of thousands, online dating showing potentially millions, and society demanding nobody should settle, finding a partner that's "good enough" doesn't work anymore.

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u/TAKEitTOrCIRCLEJERK Jul 15 '26

nothing just happens naturally. especially for men. you have to try. you have to probe the waters and figure out if there’s anything there. you have to do the asking. you have to make your interest known.

you cannot be passive. you can’t expect things to happen naturally. you must take an active role.

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u/Poor_Richard Jul 15 '26

It has for a long time, but not forever. Early humans could be really brutal.

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u/TAKEitTOrCIRCLEJERK Jul 15 '26

so you’re talking about rape. got it.

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u/Poor_Richard Jul 15 '26

I was trying to be tactful, but yeah... I was probably too vague.

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u/statistnr1 Jul 15 '26

IMO

It was worse, but in a much different way.

was quite obvious.
And in some parts of the world it's still not too much different, unfortunately.

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u/Blobbem Jul 15 '26

Should include an asterisk at the end, really. Volunteering, joining hobby groups and such isn't a guarantee that you will find friends. Nobody is owed friendship and you can't force companionship, after all.

That said, it has better odds than staying indoors all the time.

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u/Krislazz Jul 15 '26

Definitely! But I’ve met very few people so universally unlikable that I can’t imagine there exists a forum for them.

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u/Blobbem Jul 15 '26

I can’t imagine there exists a forum for them.

Can confirm that there isn't.

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u/PiLamdOd Jul 15 '26

People always say "do hobbies," but never explain which hobbies and how to find other people doing them.

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u/Krislazz Jul 15 '26

That’s the part that comes in so many flavors it’s hopeless to give a standard recipe.

What: literally anything you enjoy doing.
Where: the places in your local community where people might do those things.
How: walk around town, do a google search, browse a local newspaper.

The «what» might be influenced by your results from the «how» phase depending on how narrow your interests are and what the local selection is like.

As an example, I recently moved somewhere and was looking for a marching band to play in. By googling the town name I was able to find two, and by reading their own web pages I narrowed down my choice to one band which I’ll ask to join (via e-mail) when I get more settled down.

1

u/CapNCookM8 Jul 15 '26

They're all acceptable, just don't be weird. This is anxiety speaking.

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u/Krislazz Jul 15 '26

The don’t be weird part is definitely important regardless, but I’m *generally* not wanting to speak with strangers while working out, shopping or walking down the street. That’s not anxiety, I’ve just got stuff to do.

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u/CapNCookM8 Jul 15 '26

Yeah, "don't be weird" is sort of the key part. Obviously, not everyone wants to be chatted up at the gym, I get that. But it's obvious when it's okay and when it's not, or if something organically allowed for an exchange.

But someone not allowed to talk to you while shopping or walking down the street? That's 100% anxiety, self-importance, or antisocial self-fulfilling prophesy. It should absolutely be fine for exchanges to happen in normal, everyday life.

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u/Krislazz Jul 15 '26

I think we’re talking about slightly different things? Short and specific interactions like asking for directions is/should be okay of course, but just randomly having a chat? Highly dependent on local culture, but where I’m from that’d be weirdo basically always.

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u/CapNCookM8 Jul 15 '26

How do you think a chat starts? Do you think I'm walking up to people and going "I would like to engage in an in-depth conversation with you. Would you be amenable to that?" Of course not. It starts with a quick remark and you go from there.

Yes, 99% of the time it begins and ends there, but I'm responding in context to you and the other person making a laundry list of places you don't feel you can talk with someone, including most recently, a normal walk in the park.

And here we are, having a chat about not being able to have a chat anywhere without an ounce of irony, but for some reason it's okay when it's a total stranger online but not when it's a stranger in your community. It's so backwards it's unreal.

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u/1988rx7T2 Jul 15 '26

Your age is showing. They’re very much not acceptable in many situations.

8

u/TAKEitTOrCIRCLEJERK Jul 15 '26

if you don’t know how to interact with a stranger at a bar of all places, that is 100% a you problem

6

u/CapNCookM8 Jul 15 '26

What, do you think I'm 60 because I'm capable of talking to a person?

Your terminally online is showing.

8

u/Alone-Ad288 Jul 15 '26

Pardon my fa**otry, but don't straight people hang out and have group social activities where you meet each other's friends and stuff? I have no trouble meeting other gay people.

23

u/Terrible_Truth Jul 15 '26

Maybe it’s just my social circle but everyone is always already in a relationship or a dude.

Only one local friend has a GF, all of her friends are married. At an immediate family member’s wedding, all bridesmaids had a SO.

I just don’t know how to meet women and dating apps are hell lmao.

6

u/Beer-Milkshakes Jul 15 '26

The best way to meet people is to expand social circles and mix them up. You're already with trusted friends so it relaxes everyone and they open up. The problem is circles are fractured due to marriage, money, lack of time etc

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u/HaViNgT Jul 15 '26

I can't even make friends. Modern society is carefully created to minimise human connection.

6

u/WestCoastBestCoast01 Jul 15 '26

Ime gay men are waaaaay more social than straight men.

2

u/cam1911 Jul 15 '26

It depends on the each of these situations and I’d never take any of these as a universal rule. All of these situations is fine to talk to randos, maybe don’t hit on them immediately or try a weird pickup line off the cuff, but talking to these people is fine.

I wouldn’t hit on someone at work, but the rest of these are public settings that won’t get you in trouble.

You can’t be scared of public interaction like this. I think if you’re going out into public, you have to expect to interact with that public to some extent.

1

u/smilinreap Jul 15 '26

Honest answer. Look up your local hobby app (I think in the US meetup & facebook are some of the more popular ones). Join a board game group, cycling group, counting carrot leaves group. It doesn't matter, if you have a hobby and want to do it with others, there's groups for it. Not much effort to hit join as they are usually open to all.