AI could accelerate the dating recession sparked by smartphones

Global fertility rates have fallen below the replacement level as couples form fewer romantic ties, a decline that tracks with mass smartphone adoption. The Vox piece argues that smartphones helped spur a “relationship recession” by reducing in-person socializing, and it posits that AI chatbots and companion apps could accelerate this trend by offering constant emotional support and validation—potentially widening gaps between dating expectations and reality and even substituting for human intimacy. While causality is not settled, studies showing social isolation linked to AI use and rising AI companionship suggest AI could further reshape relationships and demographic trends.