Technology

Virtual Valentines? Nearly 1 in 5 Adults Report Having Chatted with AI Romantic Partner

Published

2 years ago

February 13, 2025

21% of users say they prefer talking to an AI companion rather than real people

PROVO, Utah, Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Though the use of artificial intelligence has surged in recent years, little attention has been paid to how AI is impacting human relationships. A new report by the Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University, released today, surveyed 3,000 people across the United States to determine how people are using artificial systems that replicate romantic interactions and how these interactions may impact dating culture, couple relationships, and family formation trends.

AI romantic companion apps — such as Replika, Intimate – AI Girlfriend and Anima — are growing and are being used much more than most people might believe, particularly among young adults. Almost 1 in 5 adults in the United States (19%) report that they have chatted with an AI system meant to simulate a romantic partner. Use rates are particularly high among young adults (defined as 18-30 years old), with nearly 1 in 3 young adult men (31%) and 1 in 4 young adult women (23%) reporting that they have chatted with an AI companion. However, these technologies are increasingly common among older adults (30+ years of age) as well, with 15% of adult men and 10% of adult women reporting that they have chatted with a virtual romantic companion.

A notable portion of individuals reported that they use AI technologies for sexual purposes, with nearly 1 in 10 reporting that they have masturbated while talking to an AI companion or viewing AI sexualized images. Young adult men are more than twice as likely to view AI pornography than young adult women (27% of young adult men vs. 12% of young adult women) and adult men are three times more likely to view AI pornography than adult women (12% of adult men vs. 4% of adult women). However, it is worth noting that young adult women are just as likely as adult men to report viewing AI pornography and are three times more likely to view such media than adult women (12% vs. 4%).

The study, “Counterfeit Connections: The Rise of Romantic AI Connections and AI Sexualized Media Among the Rising Generation,” focused on three specific AI technologies that are the most abundant in online space: idealized and sexualized AI generated images of men and women on social media platforms; AI chat platforms meant to simulate romantic partners; and AI generated pornography and sexual media.

“The most important takeaway from our exploratory study is that engagement with AI technologies designed to simulate romantic partners and the viewing of idealized and sexualized AI images of men and women online is higher and more widespread than many people may think, particularly among young adults,” said Brian Willoughby, a Fellow at the Wheatley Institute, a professor in BYU’s School of Family Life, and co-author of the study. “Our results, drawn from a large national sample from the United States, suggest that a significant, and possibly growing, portion of adults have at least experimented with these AI technologies, with many utilizing these technologies on a weekly or daily basis.”

The study also found that the use of AI companion apps and engagement with AI pornography are significantly linked to a higher risk of depression and higher reports of loneliness. For example, over half of men who use AI platforms for sexual or romantic purposes reported being at risk for depression using items from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and over half reported high levels of loneliness. These rates were almost double the rates of men who did not utilize AI platforms, where only 29% were at risk for depression and 36% reported loneliness.

Women who used AI platforms seemed to particularly be at risk for poor outcomes, with over 60% of women who used AI platforms reporting a risk for depression and over half (52%) reporting high levels of loneliness. This was again significantly higher than the risk of depression (41%) and reported loneliness (39%) among women who were not using AI relationship technologies.

The authors point out that it is unclear at this point if this link exists because those with existing mental health struggles are drawn to AI romantic companion apps or if the actual engagement with these technologies lowers mental health and wellbeing over time. However, they note that regardless of the direction of this relationship, this link between AI companion apps and lower mental health warrants further examination.

“These preliminary findings suggest that AI relationship technologies represent an emerging and notable threat to users’ personal wellbeing and relationship health,” said Jason Carroll, Director of the Marriage and Family Initiative at the Wheatley Institute and a co-author of the report. “The rise of romantic AI companions and AI generated pornography is deeply troubling due to the risk these new technologies pose for increasing unrealistic relationship expectations and deprioritizing true human relationships, as well as fueling existing trends of loneliness, declines in dating, and decreased family formation.”

Additional findings from the survey include:

Of those who chatted with AI systems to simulate romantic partners, over 1 in 5 (21%) agreed that they preferred AI communication over engaging with a real person.A substantial proportion of users reported favorable attitudes toward AI technologies with 42% agreeing that AI programs are easier to talk to than real people, 43% believing that AI programs are better listeners, and 31% reporting that they feel that AI programs understand them better than real people.Among those who viewed idealized AI images of men and women, 13% said they prefer AI images over images of real people.Using AI chats for the sexual arousal was more common among men, with almost 1 in 3 of young adult men who use AI platforms (32%) reporting that they chat with AI for sexual arousal while more than 1 in 4 (28%) adult men reported using AI chats for sexual arousal. These levels are nearly twice as high as women AI users who reported chatting with an AI companion for sexual arousal (17% of young adult users and 16% of adult women users).Young adult men are more than twice as likely to view AI pornography than young adult women (27% of young adult men vs. 12% of young adult women) and adult men are three times more likely to view AI pornography than adult women (12% of adult men vs. 4% of adult women).Among young adult men who are AI engagers, 24% report viewing AI images on social media over one hour a week and 13% report spending over two hours in this activity.Among young adult women who are AI engagers the frequency of higher use is less, with 15% reporting over one hour a week and 9% reporting that the spend over two hours a week viewing AI images on social media1 in 5 (21%) agree that talking to an AI program is an acceptable way to feel loved and connected.Over 1 in 5 young adults (21%) surveyed also agreed that AI generated porn is more morally acceptable than pornography with real people while 16% of young adults agreed that AI companion apps are a good alternative to real partners if real partners are not available.

Methodology

The sample for this study comprised of 2,969 adults (ages 18 and older) residing in the United States, with an oversample of 1,000 young adults. Data was gathered through an online survey administered and gathered by Qualtrics, a third-party data collection firm. Potential subjects were introduced to the survey through existing sample panels from Qualtrics and screened based on a quota sampling framework to ensure specific percentage sampling pools across several key demographics to mirror national demographics in the United States, especially in terms of biological sex, age, and race/ethnicity.

The full report is available at https://wheatley.byu.edu/Counterfeit-Connections-AI-Romantic-Companions.

About the Wheatley Institute
The Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University engages students, scholars, thought leaders, and the public in research supported work that fortifies the core institutions of the family, religion, and constitutional government. For more information, visit https://wheatley.byu.edu/.

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SOURCE Wheatley Institute

Technology

Lovey announces £250m senior secured credit facility with Pollen Street Capital

Published

27 minutes ago

October 27, 2026

UK’s fastest-growing fintech announces its largest funding facility to date to support more UK SMEs

BIRMINGHAM, England, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lovey, the UK’s fastest-growing fintech and financial services provider, specialising in SME lending and brokerage, has today announced a senior secured credit facility of up to £250 million with Pollen Street Capital (“Pollen Street”), an alternative asset manager. The facility is made up of £50 million committed capital and a £200 million accordion, making it the largest funding facility in Lovey’s history and marking a key milestone in the company’s growth.

The facility demonstrates continued institutional investor confidence in Lovey’s lending model, technology and long-term strategy and reinforces Lovey’s position as a leading finance provider focusing on SME funding. The facility will significantly increase Lovey’s lending capacity, supporting the business as it scales its own-book lending while continuing to grow its established brokerage proposition.

Founded by Jack Smith in 2016, Lovey has grown from a one-person start-up into a 120-strong business, funding more than £600 million in loans to over 11,000 UK SMEs. Built around a mission to make lending simple, fast and beautiful, Lovey has expanded rapidly while staying focused on making finance easier and more accessible for small businesses. The new facility will support that mission by giving Lovey the capital to help more UK SMEs access funding quickly and flexibly.

Lovey began lending directly from its own balance sheet in 2022, building on its experience as a broker to develop a deeper understanding of the funding needs of UK SMEs. Today, the business combines direct lending with its established brokerage proposition, giving customers access to both Lovey’s own lending and a wider panel of funding partners. This approach allows Lovey to match businesses with the funding solution that best suits their needs, while the new facility provides greater capacity to grow its direct lending operation.

Jack Smith, Founder and CEO at Lovey, comments:
“This new facility is an important milestone for us and will enable us to put more capital behind UK small businesses, scale our own-book lending and give more SMEs access to finance when they need it. Pollen Street shares our belief that finances for small businesses should be simpler, faster and more flexible, and we’re really pleased to have them backing Lovey for this next stage of growth.”

Kai Hunter, Chief Operating Officer at Lovey, comments:
“The funding announced today is the result of close and collaborative work with Pollen Street and I am grateful to their team, and to our own, for the diligence they brought to it. This funding deepens our lending capacity and allows us to offer larger loans, so that we can back more of the UK’s small and medium-sized businesses, from those that have found finance hardest to secure to the well-established, with greater speed and certainty.”

Ethan Saggu, Investment Director, Pollen Street, adds:
“Lovey has spent almost a decade seeing the UK SME lending market from a broker’s perspective, giving the team an expert view of where demand for credit is going unmet. We have financed a number of specialist SME lenders and recognise what it takes to grow from brokerage into balance-sheet lending. Lovey has done so with a well-defined product and a focused approach, and we look forward to supporting the team as it scales.”

Lovey was advised by Ashurst Perkins Coie and Pollen Street was advised by Simmons & Simmons.

The facility builds on Lovey’s existing funding arrangements announced last year, including a £35 million revolving credit facility from Paragon Bank and a £10 million junior medium-term note programme from LGB Capital Markets. The new facility also adds to Lovey’s growing institutional funding base as it enters its next phase of expansion.

To learn more about Lovey or to apply for a fast, flexible business loan, visit Lovey’s website.

For any further information, please contact: press@lovey.com

About Lovey (the trading name of Love Finance Limited):
Lovey is the UK’s fastest-growing fintech and financial services provider, specialising in SME lending and brokerage. Founded in Birmingham in 2016 by Jack Smith, Lovey has a mission to make lending simple, fast and beautiful. The company has funded more than £600 million in loans for over 11,000 SMEs across the UK.

Recognised by EY, Deloitte, The Sunday Times, Financial Times, UK Growth Index, FEBE, and Sifted as one of the UK’s fastest-growing companies. Lovey combines direct lending and brokerage services to deliver fast, flexible, and tailored funding solutions. With an industry-leading 4.9-star Trustpilot rating, businesses can enquire in 60 seconds and receive funding in as little as 4 hours.

Website: www.lovey.com

Pollen Street Press Office:
FGS Global
Chris Sibbald / Anna Tabor
PollenStreetCapital-LON@fgsglobal.com

About Pollen Street:
Pollen Street is a fast-growing and high performing private capital asset manager. Established in 2013, the firm has built deep capability across the financial and business services sectors aligned with mega-trends shaping the future of the industry. Pollen Street manages over €9bn AUM across private equity and credit strategies on behalf of investors including leading public and corporate pension funds, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations, asset managers, banks, and family offices from around the world. Pollen Street has a team of over 100 professionals.

www.pollenstreetgroup.com

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Technology

Baidu to Report Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results on November 16, 2026

Published

27 minutes ago

October 27, 2026

BEIJING, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Baidu, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIDU; HKEX: 9888 (HKD Counter) and 89888 (RMB Counter)) (“Baidu” or the “Company”), a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, today announced that it will report its financial results for the Third Quarter 2026 ended September 30, 2026, before the U.S. market opens on November 16, 2026. Baidu’s management will hold an earnings conference call at 7:30 AM on November 16, 2026, U.S. Eastern Time (8:30 PM on November 16, 2026, Beijing Time).

Please register in advance of the conference call using the link provided below. It will automatically direct you to the registration page of “Baidu Inc. Q3 2026 Earnings Conference Call”. Please follow the steps to enter your registration details, then click “Register”. Upon registering, you will then be provided with the dial-in number, the passcode, and your unique access PIN. This information will also be emailed to you as a calendar invite.

For pre-registration, please click:
https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10057872-oyt4z8.html

In the 10 minutes prior to the call start time, you may use the conference access information (including dial-in number(s), the passcode and unique access PIN) provided in the calendar invite that you have received following your pre-registration.

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of this conference call will be available at https://ir.baidu.com.

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following number until November 24, 2026:
US: 1 855 883 1031
Replay PIN: 10057872

About Baidu

Founded in 2000, Baidu’s mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, trading on Nasdaq under “BIDU” and the HKEX under “9888.” One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baidu-to-report-third-quarter-2026-financial-results-on-november-16-2026-302920463.html

SOURCE Baidu, Inc.

Technology

IBS Software’s iCargo to power Philippine Airlines Cargo Modernisation

Published

28 minutes ago

October 27, 2026

Airline to move from its current cargo system to a modern, cloud-based platform covering cargo sales, ground handling operations and revenue accounting

MANILA, Philippines, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — IBS Software’s iCargo, a cloud-based platform bringing cargo sales, ground handling operations and accounting together, has been selected by Philippine Airlines (PAL) to replace its current cargo system. The implementation will extend iCargo’s capabilities across PAL’s domestic and international cargo operations.

As the leading AI-native product company in the travel technology sector, IBS Software will support PAL’s broader cargo transformation and modernisation programme with capabilities that support PAL’s full range of business functions, from commercial and operations to back-office accounting, while enabling further innovation and digitisation through a single, fully integrated cloud-based platform. iCargo will support cargo movements across PAL’s domestic and international operations, including international requirements such as customs reporting, duties and taxes settlement and regulatory compliance. iCargo already supports carriers with this same mix of demands, providing the flexibility, scale and capabilities to manage both.

The transition will enable PAL to address key operational requirements across its cargo operations, including system performance and data analytics. iCargo will provide modern capabilities to support faster shipment processing, greater reliability and end-to-end shipment visibility, while reducing manual intervention and enabling more efficient processes.

Beyond operational efficiency, these capabilities will help PAL Cargo bring its ‘Care that Delivers’ promise to life, giving customers greater confidence through improved shipment visibility, reliable service and a more seamless cargo experience. As cargo volumes continue to grow across its network, the new platform will also provide the technological foundation for continued innovation, operational excellence and long-term growth.

IBS Software’s proposal combined a strong technology fit with a proven track record of delivering successful cargo transformations for airlines worldwide. The selection of iCargo builds on an established relationship between Philippine Airlines and IBS Software, broadening the portfolio of IBS Software products used by PAL and reinforcing their shared commitment to long-term innovation and business growth.

“This initiative represents an important step in the modernisation of our cargo business,” said Jason Siy, Vice President for Cargo Business, Philippine Airlines. “As we grow across our domestic and international network, we need a system that increases visibility, improves operational efficiency and enables us to deliver a better experience for our customers. We see iCargo as a key enabler of our long-term cargo transformation strategy and of our ambition to build an even stronger cargo business for the future.”

“Philippine Airlines has a clear vision for the future of its cargo business, and we are proud to support that journey,” added Sunil George, Vice President & Region Head of Oceania, IBS Software. “This partnership is about more than implementing a new cargo platform. It is about working closely with PAL to build the digital foundation for future growth, innovation and operational excellence, and continuing a relationship we value deeply.”

For more information about IBS Software’s iCargo solution, visit: https://www.ibsplc.com/product/air-cargo-solutions/icargo.

About IBS Software

IBS Software is a leading travel technology company delivering AI-native travel intelligence that enables smarter, faster and more resilient decision-making, with built-in guardrails across aviation, cargo and logistics, and leisure and hospitality. It powers core capabilities for leading travel brands worldwide, spanning airline retailing, passenger services, loyalty, fleet, hub and crew operations, cargo management, and cloud-native platforms for hotels and cruise line operators, and operates from 17 offices globally.

Further information can be found at www.ibsplc.com. Follow us:
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About Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines (PAL) is the Philippines’ flag carrier and the country’s only full-service network airline. Founded in 1941, PAL is Asia’s first commercial airline and has played a vital role in connecting the Philippines to the world for 85 years.

PAL operates scheduled nonstop flights from its hubs in Manila and Cebu to 29 destinations across the Philippines and 40 destinations in Asia, North America, Australia, and the Middle East.

PAL is an APEX Four Star™ airline and was recognised by Cirium for achieving the highest on-time performance among Asia-Pacific carriers in 2025. In 2026, Philippine Airlines was officially invited to join the oneworld® Alliance.

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SOURCE IBS Software