AI Girlfriend Coach Publishes U.S. Study on Attitudes Toward AI Romance and Cheating

Survey of 1,709 quality-screened U.S. adults examines views on AI relationships, fidelity and reasons for using AI companions

Los Angeles, CA, Sept. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AI Girlfriend Coach has published the results of a new U.S. survey examining how adults view romantic relationships with AI companions, including whether interactions with AI girlfriends or AI boyfriends can constitute cheating.

The study analyzed responses from 1,709 U.S. adults after data-quality screening and found that 50.5% considered a partner's romantic or sexual relationship with an AI to be cheating.

Of those surveyed, 33.4% said any romantic or sexual interaction with an AI counts as cheating, while 17.1% said it becomes cheating when a partner develops an emotional or sexual attachment to the AI. A further 21.2% said they would not classify the interaction as cheating but would still be uncomfortable with it.

The survey also found differences based on respondents' own openness to AI relationships. Among those who said they could imagine developing romantic feelings for an AI, 73.0% considered a partner's AI romance cheating. Among respondents who said they could never develop romantic feelings for an AI, 41.2% considered it cheating.

Respondents were also asked about the reasons people may use AI companions. When asked to select the main reason they would use one, 56.6% chose having someone to talk to or feeling less lonely, while 10.3% selected affection, romance or sexual interaction.

The research was conducted through SurveyMonkey Audience on August 26–27, 2026. A total of 2,150 completed responses were collected from U.S. adults aged 18 and older. Following data-quality screening, 441 responses showing a repeated contradictory answer pattern were excluded, leaving 1,709 responses for analysis. Age and gender were census-balanced during recruitment; region and household income were not.

The complete findings, methodology, demographic breakdowns and additional analysis are available in the AI romance and modern relationships study published by AI Girlfriend Coach.

About AI Girlfriend Coach

AI Girlfriend Coach publishes independent research and analysis on AI companions, AI relationships and the developing AI companion industry.

Ranji Mercado
AI Girlfriend Coach
ranji@aigirlfriend.coach