Young adults are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT to assist with social interactions, using the technology not only for professional purposes but also to navigate everyday conversations and relationships. For some, AI serves as a digital conversation coach, helping draft messages for dating apps, icebreakers for social gatherings, or even responses during face-to-face exchanges. This trend reflects a broader attempt to ease social anxiety and optimize communication in real time.

Niharika Abbaraju, a 20-year-old cancer researcher, exemplifies this new reliance on AI beyond the workplace. She uses ChatGPT to craft pickup lines and summarize unfamiliar reading materials during conversations, aiming to appear well-informed. “It isn’t that I can’t think for myself,” she says, “AI just makes things smoother.” However, Abbaraju also acknowledges the importance of maintaining fundamental communication skills and cautions against overdependence on AI for every social interaction.

Mental health experts express similar concerns, noting that excessive reliance on AI for social exchanges may undermine individuals’ confidence in their own voices. Andrea Wallace, a 24-year-old personal trainer in Austin, Texas, observes that messages generated by chatbots often lack the informal, imperfect quality that fosters intimacy in romantic relationships. She points out that AI-crafted texts sometimes contain stylistic patterns—such as clichés or overly polished language—that can feel inauthentic to recipients.

Others, like Lucas Dvorak, a 22-year-old student at Northwestern University, consciously avoid using AI for conversations with close partners. His girlfriend finds AI-assisted messages “lazy and unromantic,” and he respects her preference. This viewpoint aligns with clinical insights suggesting that chatbots, designed primarily for productivity, may not effectively serve the nuances of personal relationships. Ashleigh Golden, a clinical psychologist at Stanford University, warns that transferring social tasks to AI might signal a lack of care and lead to reduced tolerance for uncertainty in communication.

For individuals with social anxiety, AI can provide temporary relief by reducing the fear of making mistakes. Yet, Golden and other specialists caution that this crutch may hinder the development of trust in one’s own judgment and emotional regulation over time. Kalin Lincoln, a 20-year-old food science student, finds value in using AI to refine the tone of emotionally charged messages and prepare for challenging conversations. Still, she recounts an instance when AI advice conflicted with what her instincts indicated, underscoring the limitations of automated guidance.

Seattle-based relationship coach Alexandra Friedman advises using AI tools selectively—as a means to scaffold difficult discussions rather than replacing spontaneous communication. She recommends limiting AI role-play to avoid dependency and encourages users to prompt chatbots for conversational practice rather than complete scripts. “Feeling uncomfortable is part of the human experience,” Friedman notes, emphasizing that technology cannot replicate genuine emotional processes.

As AI becomes more integrated into everyday communication, young adults and experts alike grapple with balancing its benefits against potential pitfalls, underscoring the enduring importance of authentic, unscripted human connection.