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The Download: accidental AI relationships, and the future of contraception

Charlotte Jee

created: Sept. 24, 2025, 12:10 p.m. | updated: Sept. 30, 2025, 8:20 a.m.

It’s surprisingly easy to stumble into a relationship with an AI chatbotThe news: The first large-scale computational analysis of the Reddit community r/MyBoyfriendIsAI, which is dedicated to discussing AI relationships, found that many people formed those relationships unintentionally while using AI for other purposes. Why it matters: The study found that AI companionship provides vital support for some but exacerbates underlying problems for others. MIT Technology Review Narrated: What’s next for AI and mathThe last year has seen rapid progress in the ability of large language models to tackle math at high school level and beyond. This story is the latest to be turned into a MIT Technology Review Narrated podcast, which we publish every week on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Just navigate to MIT Technology Review Narrated on either platform, and follow us to listen to all our new episodes as they’re released.

2 months, 2 weeks ago: MIT Technology Review