The Increase of AI Companionships May Lead to a Surge in Divorces.

Judges, according to Palmer, are already “struggling with issues surrounding human relationships,” and the introduction of AI companions will only add to the complexity, as they consider the broader implications on personal connections. The presence of children further complicates matters. In custody disputes, “it’s conceivable and likely that parents’ judgment will be questioned if they engage in intimate conversations with a chatbot,” raising concerns about their parenting time.

Even though the advanced chatbots we utilize today have been around for only a short while, Yang asserts that this technology will increasingly influence marriages and divorces. “As these tools continue to evolve, becoming more realistic, compassionate, and empathetic, more individuals in unhappy marriages will likely seek affection from a bot.”

Though Yang has yet to hear clients raise this issue, she anticipates a surge in divorces as more people look to AI for companionship. “We can expect to see a rise in divorce filings. Following the onset of Covid a few years ago, there was a significant spike in divorces, with claims tripling from 2020 to 2022. Post-2022, as life returned to normal, divorce rates fell, but they are expected to rise again.”

This trend is already manifesting in some areas. In the UK, the use of chatbot applications by partners has become a notable factor in divorce cases, as reported by data collection service Divorce-Online. The platform indicates a rise in divorce applications this year, with clients stating that apps like Replika and Anima fostered “emotional or romantic attachment.”

Despite the disruption caused by these developments, Palmer maintains that AI relationships can have positive aspects. “Some individuals are discovering true fulfillment.” However, she cautions that “people must acknowledge the limitations.” In October, California became the first state to enact a regulation law for AI companion chatbots, effective January 2026. The law mandates specific features, including age verification and break reminders for minors, and prohibits chatbots from acting as healthcare providers. Companies profiting from illegal deepfakes face fines of up to $250,000 per incident.

In many ways, Palmer has previously observed similar dynamics with social media instead of AI. “A partner might reconnect with someone from their past, or there could simply be a genuine need for communication. It’s increasingly rare for social media not to play a role in these situations.” AI, she suggests, represents the natural progression of this phenomenon. “What I’m noticing is that AI is becoming precisely that.”