AI usage rises for emotional conversations in the Netherlands

Nearly half of Dutch citizens aged 18 to 40 are now using artificial intelligence for personal or emotional conversations. Among these users, two out of three discuss topics with AI that they would otherwise share with a real person.

Social psychologist Stijn Boermans notes that AI is becoming increasingly capable of responding to emotions, which can provide comfort when discussing difficult subjects. Users often turn to chatbots to avoid social barriers, such as the fear of being judged, the perceived burden on friends, or the need to wait for a person to be available.

Additionally, over half of users utilize AI to prepare for difficult interpersonal interactions, such as expressing anger to a partner. However, there are concerns regarding the impact on social development. Some young users aged 18 to 25 report feeling insecure during real-life conversations regarding emotions or conflict without the aid of AI, and one in six young users claims that the use of AI has led to less meaningful conversations.