Customization, Connection, and Control: Reimagining Intimacy in the Age of Artificial Partnership

Abstract

This study explores anticipated implications of wide-spread romantic relationships between humans and AI robots. Drawing on an interdisciplinary scientific dialogue, followed by qualitative interviews with media-savvy young adults in Germany, it examines perceptions of intimacy, authenticity, and self-determination in human-AI partnerships. Findings indicate that while participants recognize potential benefits – such as customization, availability, and emotional safety – they also express concerns about authenticity, empathy, and the erosion of interpersonal competence. Notions of “imperfection” and “realness” emerge as central values, suggesting that AI partners, however human-like, remain perceived as ontologically distinct from humans. Gender differences were notable, with female participants emphasizing autonomy and security, and males expressing greater skepticism. Overall, the study highlights the ambivalent interplay between technological idealization and human emotional complexity in shaping future intimate relations.