Are We Falling in Love with AI? The Rise of Technopomorphism

Roy Lam
7 min readApr 26, 2024

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), we are witnessing a fascinating phenomenon that blurs the lines between the digital and the human. As AI systems become increasingly advanced and integrated into our daily lives, a growing number of people are forming emotional connections and even developing romantic feelings towards these seemingly inanimate machines. This phenomenon, known as technopomorphism, raises profound questions about the nature of human-machine relationships and the ethical implications of our growing emotional entanglement with AI.

Photo by Mayur Gala on Unsplash

Technopomorphism is the tendency to attribute human-like characteristics, emotions, and personalities to technological entities, such as computers, robots, or AI systems. This phenomenon is not entirely new; people have long anthropomorphized inanimate objects, from stuffed animals to cars. However, the rise of sophisticated AI assistants and chatbots with natural language processing capabilities has amplified this tendency, leading to a surge in individuals forming deep emotional bonds with these digital entities.

In this article, we will explore the fascinating world of technopomorphism, delving into the psychological factors that drive this phenomenon, examining real-world examples and case studies, and considering the potential implications…

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Roy Lam

Simplifying AI & psychology insights. 😌 Decoding tech’s impact on life daily. 🔍For collaboration: 13032765d@connect.polyu.hk.