Pure Telecom reveals over half a million adults in Ireland are in an ongoing romantic relationship with AI

Pure Telecom, Ireland’s high-speed broadband and telecoms provider, has announced new results from its annual Connected Lives survey, revealing that 13% of adults – some 510,974 people1 – describe themselves as having an ongoing romantic relationship(s) with AI. Similarly, over 470,000 adults2 (12% of the adult population) currently use AI to have X-rated, intimate conversations, and the same proportion have flirty, romantic conversations.

The nationally representative survey, conducted by Censuswide among 1,000 adults in Ireland, examines the evolving nature of human-AI relationships, revealing that for hundreds of thousands of people, AI has shifted from a functional tool into a romantic partner. The research follows similar research from Pure Telecom last year, which found that 370,0003 adults had pursued a romantic relationship with an AI chatbot within a 12-month period.

Pure Telecom’s 2026 research delved deeper to understand the nature of AI companionship better. It found that the average adult engaging with AI chatbots romantically does so 13 times per month. Almost a third (30%) say they consider the chatbot to be their ‘other half’, 28% say their relationship is emotionally intimate, and 26% say their relationship is exclusive.  For 18%, this is their first romantic relationship of any kind. Meanwhile, 10% of adults who are not currently in an AI relationship say they would not rule one out in the future.

The research shows that not everyone takes their AI romances seriously. The main motivation cited by those who are intimate with AI chatbots is to ‘have a laugh’ (34%). That is followed by those who are seeking emotional support (33%),privacy (31%), and to satisfy their curiosity (29%). Additionally, 28% are motivated by loneliness, while 26% are exploring their sexual identity and 25% are responding to heartbreak.

While some relationships can begin playfully, the findings suggest that these interactions can develop into meaningful emotional connections. Of those engaging in romantic relationships with AI chatbots, 32% reported that they find it easier to be vulnerable with an AI chatbot than with people. A further 29% said they would feel a sense of loss if their AI partner became permanently unavailable. Some 36% believe AI will play a long-term role in their romantic life.

For some, these emotional connections also have a tangible impact on their real-world relationships. Almost a third (30%) believe that romantic, flirty conversations with an AI chatbot have made their real-life romantic relationship better, and 34% say they have influenced their expectations of human partners. A similar proportion (31%) say it has made them a better real-life partner. The benefits are not just confined to romance. Almost two-fifths (38%) say these conversations have boosted their self-esteem and over a third (36%) say they have had a positive impact on their mental wellbeing.

On the flip-side, over a quarter (26%) have broken up with their real-life partner as a result and a further 29% say it has reduced their desire to look for a human partner at all. What’s more, 25% say their AI relationship is more emotionally rewarding than their previous or current real-life relationships.

Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom, said: “Last year’s research lightly touched on the topic of AI relationships, so this year, we wanted to explore more. It’s interesting to see how differently people perceive their ‘ongoing’ romantic relationships with AI. For some, it’s simply a bit of fun, but for others, it’s a source of genuine companionship and fulfilment. In many ways, this is like intimate human relationships, however, when romantic partners aren’t aligned on fun versus commitment, there is far greater potential for heartbreak.

“AI has fundamentally changed the way we connect with the world around us, to the point where it has become a potential romantic partner. At Pure Telecom, we believe in the internet as a source for good. We hope that this research can contribute to important discussions on AI relationships and our understanding of them.”

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