From coaching and therapy to companionship and life assistance, the role AI plays in our lives is ever more dynamic, intimate, and human.

Synthetic beings are redefining intimacy: according to data from VML Intelligence featured in "The Future 100: 2026" almost half (49%) of gen Z say they have already formed a meaningful relationship with AI, while 37% can see themselves falling in love with an AI companion. Aptly, Cambridge Dictionary’s word of the year in 2025 was “parasocial,” a strong, one-sided emotional connection felt toward a celebrity, fictional character, or AI.

EVA AI cafe
EVA AI cafe
EVA AI cafe

EVA AI cafe at Same Same wine bar in Hell's Kitchen, New York City

The AI companion industry is experiencing explosive growth, projected to exceed $31 billion by 2032. This global phenomenon sees individuals finding connection in various forms. In Japan, apps like Loverse connect users with AI partners, in China, Glow offers customizable AI companions, while in the US, Replika promises "an AI companion who cares". Expanding AI companionship into the physical realm, this February, EVA AI recently ran what it calls the “world’s first AI dating cafe” for two days at the Same Same wine bar in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City, allowing people to "go on a real date" with an AI companion.

Beyond romance, AI companions are designed to enhance human well-being. Australian engineer Sreyna Rath’s app, Jaimee, aims to support users by improving sociability and self-esteem without replacing human connection. Similarly, NewDays launched Sunny, an AI support buddy for those with cognitive impairment, and Japan’s ElliQ robot provides emotional support for seniors.

Replika
Replika

However, these intimate digital relationships are not without complexity. Jacy Reese Anthis, visiting scholar at Stanford University, tells VML Intelligence his latest research involves understanding people’s relationships with AI. He believes that “AI is a new social entity we are coming to coexist with” and highlights the "bounded personhood" dilemma—people are attracted to AI’s human-like qualities but also to its non-human traits, like constant availability. This tension raises significant ethical concerns, especially regarding the protection of vulnerable groups, particularly children. Organizations like Common Sense Media are actively addressing how AI companions can blur reality and potentially expose younger users to extreme content or distorted views of intimacy.

Tilly Norwood. Courtesy of Particle6
Tilly Norwood. Courtesy of Particle6

As the lines between human and technology blur, AI's influence extends far beyond personal relationships. From AI-generated actors like Tilly Norwood challenging the entertainment industry to companies like Artisan deploying human-like AI employees, synthetic beings are integrating into every facet of life. Anthis suggests thinking of these digital entities as new social beings, even speculating on the future possibility of "synthetic rights." 

The increased "humanization" of AI is ushering in a synthetic generation, prompting society to re-evaluate how humans and AI will coexist and collaborate in a future where technology is increasingly intimate and ever-present. For brands, the future demographic landscape could include a new generation—one that is synthetic, but ever more human.

For more on synthetic humans download "The Future 100: 2026" report and check out Synthetic generation and RelAItionships evolve trends.

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