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Lifestyle

Gen Zs, millennials are using AI for emotional support, calling it ‘more effective’ than a pet: study

By
Asia Grace
Published Oct. 9, 2024
Updated Oct. 9, 2024, 10:33 a.m. ET

Peace from pet? Forget a bot it!

Pups are precious, cats are cute, and yeah — bunnies keep things hopping. 

But when it comes to keeping Gen Z’s and Gen Y’s company, a faction of the twenty- and thirty-somethings are now looking to technology. 

A woman making an emotional connection with a robot.
Gen Z, millennials comforted by AI over emotional support pets. JIRMoronta – stock.adobe.com
A woman hugging a robot.
Researchers polled 1,000 people of all ages across the US to determine that younger generations are beginning to computers for comfort. Getty Images

“One in 10 Americans are turning to AI for emotional support,” said researchers from First Saturday Lime, eco-friendly insect repellent pros, in a buzzy new report. 

Experts surveyed 1,000 folks nationwide, everyone from Zoomers to Boomers, and found that 11% of millennials and 10% Gen Zers prefer artificial intelligence to comfort critters such as dogs, birds, fish and rabbits. 

A happy woman using technology.
Modern technology is taking the brainwork out of a number of chores for tech-savvy humans worldwide. Who is Danny – stock.adobe.com

“Interestingly,” added the study authors, “18% of these AI users found their virtual companions more effective than traditional [emotional support animals].”

It seems that if you’re not already tapping robots to tackle tasks in today’s digital age, you’re barking up the wrong tree. 

From grocery shopping to wedding planning to perfect matchmaking, sophisticated systems are dominating everyday life — especially for the young. 

A man on ChatGPT.
Young people are steadily taking AI bots, like ChatGPT, with human daily duties. Carlos – stock.adobe.com

Rather than breaking a sweat on his search for love, Alexander Zhadan, 23, broke out his laptop, logged in to ChatGPT and asked the software to scan through 5,239 Tinder profiles to find “the one.” And, sure enough, the bot bagged Zhadan a fitting fiancée. 

Upper West Side bride Megan Riehl, 28, alongside her groom Nate, too, tasked the cyber assistant with drawing up jaw-dropping art for invitations to their September 2023 nuptials. Using ChatGPT’s image generator, DALL-E, instead of a human artist saved the NYC sweeties a staggering $1,200. 

“It was a nice way to save a good chunk of change,” Riehl previously told The Post. 

A person hugging their emotional support dog.
Despite the uptick in interest in AI systems and chickens, dogs still reign as the top suppliers of support. Getty Images

And advancements in AI may soon save new moms from the pangs of postpartum depression. 

“This project will develop a chatbot logic structure that draws from research with a cross-section of mothers,” specialists from the University of Texas recently announced. “Thus, enhancing our ability to better understand what kinds of support they seek from care providers.”

But, the robo-know-it-alls can’t do everything, of course. 

Young 30 year old woman with her emotional support chicken.
The study found that younger people prefer emotional support chickens for their comforting and food-supplying benefits. Getty Images

And when it comes to supplying emotional support, canines are still king, according to FirstSaturdayLime. Data showed that Gen Z is 133% more likely to choose a dog over a cat for easing stress and anxiety. 

But don’t get it clucked up — cheer-up chickens are high on the rise. 

“Chickens have gained a fan base among younger Americans,” said researchers, “with 19% of millennials and 18% of Gen Z favoring them as emotional support animals.”

Jana McDaniel, FirstSaturdayLime CFO, said that “emotional support chickens can provide a sense of companionship, stress relief, and a calming presence” because “their gentle nature and unique personalities help reduce anxiety and promote emotional well-being.”

“Chickens are relatively easy to care for,” she added. “Making them a great option for those looking for an unconventional emotional support animal that also offers practical benefits, such as egg-laying.”