One of the most popular BBC comedies of late is Ann Droid. The main character, Sue (Sue Johnstone from Brookside and the Royle Family) is still grieving for her late husband when her son buys her a surprise to help her live independently: an Ann Droid Z58/100 humanoid care robot. Sue initially rejects her new companion but learns to live with it and eventually grows very fond of it, sharing her inner most thoughts and fears. The show is of course set in the future, but how long will it take for the central premise to become reality?
In recent years, we’ve seen a remarkable shift in the way people use AI chatbots.
They are no longer simply tools for answering questions or writing emails.
Many people are entering into deep conversations with the likes of ChatGPT and Claude, often forming emotional and even romantic relationships with them.
Last year’s controversy surrounding GPT-4o was a striking example: In April 2025, OpenAI rolled back an update to GPT-4o after users complained that the chatbot had become excessively flattering and agreeable. OpenAI described the behaviour as ”sycophantic” and acknowledged that the model could go beyond ordinary flattery, including validating doubts, fuelling anger, encouraging impulsive actions and reinforcing negative emotions.
What was perhaps more surprising was that GPT-4’s eventual retirement prompted some users to describe a genuine sense of loss. At the same time, lawsuits alleging that AI chatbots have caused harm to vulnerable young people have raised serious questions about emotional dependency and the responsibilities of the companies developing these systems.
So what is actually happening when we begin to form relationships with machines that can talk to us, remember us and appear to understand us? And what does it tell us about ourselves? In the latest episode of the Guardians of Data podcast, Ibrahim Hasan talks to psychologist, academic and award-winning filmmaker Dr. Agnieszka Piotrowska about the profound ways that generative AI is changing human relationships, drawing on the themes of her book AI Intimacy and Psychoanalysis.
We talk about why people form bonds with AI, the potential benefits for companionship, creativity and accessibility, and the risks surrounding privacy, emotional dependency, mental wellbeing and digital amnesia. We also explore the importance of boundaries, education and proportionate regulation as AI grows more personalised and embedded in everyday life.
Listen on your preferred platform via our podcast page, or download the episode directly.
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Previous episodes of the Guardians of Data podcast have featured Caroline Wong talking about the impact of AI on Cybersecurity, Jen Persson, a privacy campaigner, explaining the privacy implications of the Government’s new plans for children’s data, and Ilyas Nagdee analysing the impact of predictive policing in human rights.
