More Than A Machine: How Gen Z Confides In AI Chatbots

Was I the Problem?

That night, I didn’t cry, I typed.
And I didn’t message any other friend.
I messaged Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“Was I the problem?” That was the question I typed into an AI chatbox one night, my heart heavier than I wanted to admit.

My best friend, more like a sister, had started drifting away from me. We used to share everything: secrets, laughter, dreams. The kind of bond that didn’t need constant talking to feel real. But something shifted. She stopped returning my calls. My messages sat on “read.” When we did speak, her replies were dry, distant, like reading from a script.

I kept wondering what I had done wrong.
But I couldn’t bring myself to talk to anyone else. I didn’t want to seem clingy or dramatic. My mind was loud, and my heart was sore. So I did the unexpected, I turned to AI.

I typed:

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“I think my best friend is ignoring me. I don’t know why. I feel really down. Was I the problem?”

It felt strange at first to talk to artificial intelligence about something so personal. But the response surprised me.

“Maybe it’s time to talk to her. Be honest. And if she still pulls away, remember that you deserve peace too. Life moves on, and so should you.”

That one paragraph didn’t solve everything. But it gave me clarity. It was a pause in the storm. And it made me realise something: I wasn’t completely alone.

Real Voices, Real Relief: How Gen Z Turns to AI for Comfort

For many Gen Z, AI has quietly become more than just a homework helper or productivity tool. It’s becoming a listener.

But first, let’s define what AI is and who Gen Z’s are;

AI refers to computer systems designed to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. In this context, AI refers to conversational tools like ChatGPT, Replika, and Snapchat AI programmes designed to simulate human-like conversation and provide responses based on one’s input.

Gen Z includes people born roughly between the early 2000s and 2012. They are the first generation to grow up entirely in the digital age, raised on smartphones, social media, and instant information.

Known for being tech-savvy, socially aware, and mentally health-conscious, Gen Zers often navigate life through a screen. It’s no surprise they’re among the first to explore emotional support through AI.

Let’s continue.

In moments of anxiety, heartbreak, or confusion, especially when people feel alone or unheard, AI offers something unexpected: comfort. I spoke to some users to seek their views on the use of AI for emotional support.

One user told me;

“I felt I had no one to talk to. No listening ears. I opened up to AI, and it felt safe. It gave me a logical, kind response.”

Since then, they use it almost daily. Whether it’s about school stress, relationship drama, or personal growth, they feel understood.

Another person described using AI during a depressive episode:

“It encouraged me. Then it gently suggested seeing a real counselor. It didn’t judge. It just helped.”

They laughed as they recalled once asking AI for money, “and it actually pointed me to legit loan sites!”

Some say they trust AI more than people.

“At least AI doesn’t backbite,” one person said. “I don’t worry it’ll snitch.”

But not everyone feels the same.

“It helped, yeah. But I wouldn’t tell others to do it. It’s sort of madness, excuse me to say,” someone added with a smile.

Another says those who rely on AI are just lonely and fear judgment.

“Let’s be frank with ourselves, people who always resort to AI are all lonely people, they keep to themselves, because they fear to be judged, they are lonely and sometimes it’s pride”.

Is that really what it is?

Talking to AI First: How Gen Z Rehearses Emotions

Before facing real conversations, many Gen Zers are practising them with AI.

It might sound strange, but for some, typing out what they want to say, venting, questioning, or preparing for a hard conversation helps them sort through messy emotions.

I’ve done it too.

As an introvert, it’s not that I can’t talk to people, but rehearsing emotionally heavy conversations helps me stay grounded. AI became the space where I could test my thoughts without fear of how they’d land.

When I had to confront a friend about something hurtful, I first typed out the situation to an AI Chabot. It helped me find the right words. And when I finally had the conversation in real life, I was calmer and more confident.

For some, AI is just a thinking partner.
For others, it’s a mirror that listens and replies.

The AI Generation: When Gen Z Talks to Machines

With tools like ChatGPT, Snapchat AI, and Replika becoming part of our daily lives, Gen Z is building a new kind of relationship with artificial intelligence.

We’re the generation raised on Google, YouTube, and Instagram. But beyond school help or fun chats, AI is becoming something deeper: an emotional companion.

In a world where therapy is expensive, friendships are fragile, and social media feels fake, AI offers something real.

Not perfect advice. But a place.
No judgment. No pressure. Just room to breathe.

And for many of us, that’s enough.

From a psychological perspective, the growing emotional reliance on AI raises both curiosity and caution.

Therapists recognise that AI provides immediacy and non-judgment, especially at 2 a.m. when no one else is available. For many Gen Z, this accessibility makes AI feel more dependable than people.

But psychologists also ask; will this dependency create deeper isolation?

One thing is clear; AI is not replacing therapy, but for some, it’s a bridge. A moment of calm. A mental dress rehearsal. A way to feel heard without fear.

For me, it’s not an escape. It helps me face things more clearly.
It gives me space to feel heard. To think. To heal.

Maybe that’s what adaptation looks like.

We’re learning to survive in a world that doesn’t always pause for emotions.
And somehow, even in this strange new rhythm, we’re okay.

We’re not broken.
We’re just finding new ways to cope.

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