Sharing Science Beyond the Lab: Our Group’s Research on AI Love in the Media
Our research on human–AI romantic relationships was featured on Germany’s national TV and radio programs: the SWR investigative documentary series Vollbild (plus accompanying Tagesschau article), live on WDR’s Hier und Heute, and in the SWR Wissen radio show. These appearances provided a platform to share our findings with a broader audience and to contribute to the public discourse on the implications of romantic relationships with AI chatbots.
The Vollbild documentary, titled “Perfekte Liebe? – Wie gefährlich sind KI-Beziehungen?” (Perfect Love? – How Dangerous Are AI Relationships?), delves into the real-world applications and potential risks associated with AI chatbots designed for companionship. It highlights cases where individuals have developed deep emotional connections with AI entities, raising questions about the psychological and societal impacts of such relationships.
The Tagesschau article accompanying the documentary further emphasizes the growing relevance of AI companionship and summarizes the key findings of the documentary and our research, helping to make this complex topic accessible to the public.
In addition, the SWR Wissen radio show dedicated an episode to our research, offering an in-depth audio exploration of the topic and reaching a diverse listener audience. In her interview, Paula Ebner explained that individuals engaging in AI relationships often display a particularly strong capacity for imagination and emotional investment.
A further public engagement took place during a live TV interview with Dr. Jessica Szczuka on WDR’s Hier und Heute, where she reflected on the emotional significance of AI relationships while emphasizing their distinction from human-to-human connections. Concluding the interview, she remarked: “And let’s not underestimate the beauty of humanity.” This statement underscored the value of human relationships even as technology creates new forms of intimacy.
These media appearances reflect our group’s deliberate commitment to bringing scientific research beyond academic boundaries and into the public sphere. By actively engaging with national television, radio, and online platforms, we are not only sharing findings but also helping shape critical public discourse on the ethical, psychological, and societal dimensions of emerging technologies in human relationships. Through this engagement, our group contributes to a broader societal understanding of how intimacy, trust, and emotional connection evolve in the digital age and why these conversations are essential for the future.
Link to the Vollbild documentary: https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/vollbild-recherchen-die-mehr-zeigen/perfekte-liebe-wie-gefaehrlich-sind-ki-beziehungen/swr/Y3JpZDovL3N3ci5kZS9hZXgvbzIyMzAyODE
Link to the Tagesschau article: d
Link to WDR Hier & Heute: https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/hier-und-heute/hier-und-heute-oder-30-04-2025/wdr/Y3JpZDovL3dkci5kZS9CZWl0cmFnLXNvcGhvcmEtYWE4OTBmYmUtMTMzNi00MGRkLTgwNzgtYTQ5NzQwNzNiNTAy
Link to SWR Wissen: https://www.swr.de/wissen/ki-beziehungen-wenn-menschen-sich-in-ki-chatbots-verlieben-100.html