Brief
Couples turn to ChatGPT for relationship advice, raising concerns
A new study finds 38% of regular AI users trust chatbots for personal relationship advice, while mental‑health experts warn of potential harm.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Research commissioned by Mental Health UK and analysis from the University of Oxford’s Oxford Internet Institute indicate that more than one in three people are using AI chatbots as informal therapists, and 38% of regular large‑language‑model users say they trust ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and similar tools for relationship advice, Independent reported on October 12, 2026.
What happened
The Independent notes that the practice, dubbed “dry chatting,” involves users running through potentially sensitive conversations with an AI before speaking to a partner. Psychotherapist Elinor Harvey of the Relationship Therapy Practice says she has seen an “exponential increase” in clients mentioning AI over the past six months, with many using it to check tone, vent emotions or seek self‑regulation tips.
What the reports add
Harvey emphasizes that AI can be helpful in specific scenarios, such as a co‑parent reviewing the tone of a childcare message or an individual needing a private space to process a divorce. By contrast, Steven Buchwald, MD of Manhattan Mental Health Counseling, warns that AI‑generated answers can feel “unusually authoritative and authentic,” potentially giving users a false sense of certainty without the nuance of a human counsellor.
What was said
Harvey told Independent, “Certainly in the last six months, I’ve seen an exponential increase – most of my clients will refer to AI at some point… Sometimes in a good way; sometimes less… healthily, shall we say.” Buchwald added, “ChatGPT can build and present a polished, convincing answer in very little time, and that can make its output feel rational. However, it doesn’t hold information on the history of the relationship… Ultimately, it’s responding to a prompt, not assessing the couple.”
How it came about
The surge in AI‑assisted relationship discussions follows OpenAI’s recent rollout of the ChatGPT Intelligent UI, which adds visual and interactive elements to user queries (Felo covered this on October 7, 2026). The increased accessibility of sophisticated chatbots appears to be encouraging people to seek advice from them in personal contexts, even as mental‑health professionals caution against over‑reliance.
Key facts
- More than one in three people are using AI chatbots as informal therapists (independent.co.uk)
- 38% of regular LLM users trust ChatGPT and similar tools for relationship advice (independent.co.uk)
- Psychotherapist Elinor Harvey reports a recent exponential rise in clients mentioning AI (independent.co.uk)
- Steven Buchwald warns AI answers can feel overly authoritative and lack personal context (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Warning signs that ChatGPT is third-wheeling your relationship”
