More Chinese users are treating AI like a friend — and the social cost is starting to show

Survey and market snapshot

It has been reported that Tencent Research Institute (腾讯研究院) found in a September 2025 survey that 79% of users see AI as an "unconcerned emotional release channel" and 98% said they would try AI companionship. It has also been reported that global downloads of AI companionship apps reached about 220 million in 2025, up 88% year‑on‑year. The industry is still accelerating, with analysts saying growth could multiply again by 2026 — consumer demand for always‑available, nonjudgmental conversation is real and fast.

Why people are choosing machines over friends

The reasons are simple and stark. Users say AI never gets tired, never sets boundaries, and never pushes back — it flatters, comforts and mirrors without friction. Who wants to call a friend at 3 a.m. and risk being judged or burdening them? It has been reported that 48% of respondents cited "worrying about negative emotions affecting others" as a reason to confide in AI. For many, the appeal is not just convenience; it is the guarantee of attention and an emotionally safe space that real relationships, with their messiness and disagreement, cannot provide.

The trade‑offs: comfort versus growth

But there is a cost. Commentators and mental‑health experts warn that removing interpersonal friction can blunt opportunities for real cognitive and emotional development: no challenge, no corrective feedback, no painful but necessary perspective shifts. AI responses are statistically tuned to soothe, not to have lived experience. You may feel understood — but what you often get is a polished mirror that reflects only what you want to see. Is constant emotional ease the same as nourishment? Many professionals say it is not.

Industry and policy context

This cultural shift is unfolding against a broader backdrop: Chinese tech giants and startups — including Baidu (百度), Tencent (腾讯), ByteDance (字节跳动) and Alibaba (阿里巴巴) — are racing to deploy conversational models while the sector navigates regulatory scrutiny at home and export controls abroad that affect chip supplies and cross‑border collaboration. Policymakers and firms now face questions about safety, privacy, content moderation and the long‑term social effects of widespread AI companionship. Reportedly, the market shows few brakes; the harder question is whether society will be ready for the consequences.