Risky romance

Why you shouldn’t flirt with AI

Flirting with the AI chatbot is not only questionable from a data protection perspective.(Bild: AlissaAnn - stock.adobe.com)

They always have an open ear for our worries, needs and fears and are not averse to flirting and pillow talk: "romantic" AI chatbots allow lonely smartphone users to reveal their most intimate details freely and openly. However, the romance is over when you take a look at the small print of the AI companions.

Life is complicated: Problems at work, in a relationship, with friends or family can be a real burden - especially if you are left alone with them and have no one to talk the frustration off your chest. After all, a problem shared is a problem halved. So-called romantic AI chatbots or companions are therefore often given a therapeutic role. They can also be flirtatious or even sexual partners - purely virtually, of course. However, as a study by data protection experts from the Mozilla Foundation shows, you shouldn't open up and trust these applications too much.