<p>ICYMI: Whether it’s for friendship, therapy or sexual and romantic relationships, AI companions are becoming way more normalised. So what does this mean for the way we relate and date people irl? We investigate the rise of AI relationships and hear how you’re using it in your own love lives.</p><p>CW: discussion of mental health and suicide</p><p>SHOW NOTES:</p><p>Mental health and AI companions</p><p><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-07/ai-chatbot-husbando-waifu-relationships-romance-psychology/104701556">https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-07/ai-chatbot-husbando-waifu-relationships-romance-psychology/104701556</a></p><p>Reddit - My Husband Wants To Open Our Marriage To His AI Girlfriend <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AmIOverreacting/comments/1ltm60b/aio_my_35f_husband_36m_wants_to_open_our_marriage/">https://www.reddit.com/r/AmIOverreacting/comments/1ltm60b/aio_my_35f_husband_36m_wants_to_open_our_marriage/</a></p><p>Can ChatBots Substitute Real Human Romance?</p><p><a href="https://theconversation.com/computer-love-ai-powered-chatbots-are-changing-how-we-understand-romantic-and-sexual-well-being-234054">https://theconversation.com/computer-love-ai-powered-chatbots-are-changing-how-we-understand-romantic-and-sexual-well-being-234054</a></p><p>NY Times podcast - She Fell In Love With ChatGPT <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tXmc_cYW9Y">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tXmc_cYW9Y</a></p><p>14 Year Old Boy Takes His Life After AI Chatbot Encourages Him</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/oct/23/character-ai-chatbot-sewell-setzer-death">https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/oct/23/character-ai-chatbot-sewell-setzer-death</a></p><p>AI Companion inciting Sexual violence, abuse, terror attacks</p><p><a href="https://theconversation.com/an-ai-companion-chatbot-is-inciting-self-harm-sexual-violence-and-terror-attacks-252625">https://theconversation.com/an-ai-companion-chatbot-is-inciting-self-harm-sexual-violence-and-terror-attacks-252625</a></p><p>DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/triplejthehookup" target="_blank">@triplejthehookup</a> on IG or email us: [email protected]</p><p>The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.</p>