Between humans and machines: exploring how AI chatbots shape motivation for real relationships

Abstract

As AI chatbots become embedded in everyday life, they are increasingly used in contexts that extend beyond functional assistance and into emotionally oriented interaction. While prior research has examined AI companionship and wellbeing, less attention has been given to how AI use is situated within the perceived effort of maintaining human relationships and how this shapes motivation toward real-life social connections. This study draws on open-ended survey responses from 55 university students in Türkiye to explore how participants describe relational effort, engage with AI chatbots, and make sense of these experiences in relation to human relationships. Using an inductive thematic approach, the analysis identifies three broad themes: (1) perceptions of self and relational effort, (2) engaging with AI chatbots, and (3) motivation toward real-life relationships after AI use. Findings suggest that AI chatbots are often positioned as low-demand interactional resources that reduce immediate emotional and cognitive effort without replicating the depth or reciprocity of human relationships. Participants’ accounts reflect varied orientations toward AI use, shaped by differences in social confidence and situational demands. Rather than indicating a uniform shift in social motivation, these patterns point to context-dependent ways in which AI is integrated into existing relational practices. These findings offer an exploratory account of how AI use is embedded within broader emotional and relational dynamics, pointing to the need to consider AI engagement within the contexts in which social interaction is managed.