Replika users & their friends/family — UGA researcher wants to hear from you
Do you have a friend or loved one who talks to AI chatbots a lot?
Hi! Does someone close to you have a relationship with an AI chatbot or AI companion? We want to hear from you!
I am a researcher at the University of Georgia and my research group is looking to talk to people who have friends or family that have a close relationship with an AI chatbot or AI companion. The goal of this study is to explore how friends and family make sense of the relationships other people have with AI chatbots or AI companions. We want to learn about the social impact of AI on human relationships.
If you choose to participate, you'll be invited to take part in an interview that will be approximately 45-60 minutes. To ensure confidentiality and protect your identity, this study will use anonymization techniques to ensure there is minimal risk to you.
To be eligible to participate, you must be 18 years of age or older, speak English, and have a relationship with someone for whom AI chatbots/companions are a big part of their life.
If you would like to learn more about this study, please contact me at xinyi.wei@uga.edu. You are also welcome to reach out to our principal investigator, Dr. Ari Schlesinger, at ari.schlesinger@uga.edu, with any additional questions.
Thank you for considering participating!
Posted May 10, 2026, 10:00 PM UTC