Artificial intelligence may be “just a tool”, yet many humans experience it as much more. AI appears as a helper, colleague, friend, or even a potential romantic partner. Millions of people talk to Alexa in intimate ways or seek emotional support from ChatGPT and other digital companions. But what does this new closeness with machines mean for us and our understanding of human relationships? In this talk, Dr. Marisa Tschopp, psychologist, examines why we anthropomorphize AI, how we form bonds with it, and what opportunities and risks this brings. Blending research, practice, and critical reflection, the talk invites the audience to reconsider their own relationship with intelligent technologies and the future of human connection.

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Dr. Marisa Tschopp is a psychologist at the cybersecurity company scip AG and senior researcher at Human-IST Institute at University of Fribourg. She is researching human–machine relationships, digital companionship, trust, and their impact on behavior, social connections, and mental health with a particular interest in ethical implications.