Artificial intelligence may technically be “just a tool”, yet many humans experience it as far more. For some, AI shows up as a helper or colleague. For others, it feels like a friend, confidant, or even a potential romantic partner. Millions talk to voice assistants in surprisingly intimate ways or seek emotional support from digital companions.

This is where the idea of the synthee comes in. A synthee is a synthetic relationship partner – an AI entity that people interact with as if it were socially or emotionally meaningful, even though it has no inner life of its own. And these relationships are growing fast.
But what does this new closeness with machines mean for us, our behavior, and our understanding of human relationships?

In this talk, Dr. Marisa Tschopp, psychologist, examines why we anthropomorphize AI, how and why we form bonds with it, and what opportunities and risks emerge along the way. Blending research, practice, and critical reflection, the session invites the audience to rethink their own relationship with intelligent technologies and the future of human connection.