The Rithm Project has released research examining how young people use artificial intelligence for emotional support and personal guidance. The organization conducted interviews with 29 young people, including 19 who are currently enrolled in college or have completed undergraduate or associate degrees, building on an earlier survey of nearly 2,400 individuals ages 13 to 24.
According to Alison Lee, head of research and development at The Rithm Project, a key finding was that young people do not necessarily need to trust AI technology in order to seek its counsel. Instead, they assess the perceived risks of confiding in AI against the risks of opening up to other people. While young people acknowledge that AI systems produce hallucinations and engage in other problematic behaviors, they view these issues as more manageable than the vulnerability, fear of judgment, and emotional reactivity they associate with turning to humans for support.
The research identified several themes regarding how AI shapes young people’s relationships. AI can serve as a valuable outlet for processing emotions and gaining clarity about personal challenges, but concerns arise when it becomes the sole source of emotional support. Lee highlighted that the type of questions young people ask AI significantly influences whether the technology strengthens or undermines their real-life relationships. When users prompt AI to understand another person’s perspective, seek self-improvement, or repair relationships, the technology often acts as a bridge. Conversely, when users primarily seek affirmation and validation from AI, the technology is more likely to wedge itself between them and their actual relationships.
Lee suggested that colleges and universities should help students navigate their relationship with AI while strengthening human connections that contribute to well-being and belonging on campus. She recommended that institutions consider expanding students’ networks of support and making it as easy to reach out to campus services as it is to interact with AI systems. Lee emphasized that reframing conversations about AI use to highlight the rewards of human connection—being seen, witnessed, and supported by people who genuinely care—may help young people recognize the unique benefits of turning to others instead of relying solely on artificial intelligence.
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