Paper Details

Name: Gunika Puri, Anuradha Ranjan
Country: India

Year: 2026
Volume: Volume-13, Issue-1 (January-June)
Page Number: 199-216
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19892410

The increasing presence of artificial intelligence (AI) in everyday life has begun to reshape how individuals interact, communicate, and experience emotional support. As these systems become more interactive and emotionally responsive, many users begin to engage with them in ways that go beyond simple utility. The present study examines how technology readiness, social connectedness, and perceived anthropomorphism are related to emotional dependence on AI companions. A correlational research design was used with a sample of young adults aged 18–30 years. Standardized measures, including the Technology Readiness Index, Social Connectedness Scale, and the Individual Differences in Anthropomorphism Questionnaire, were administered along with an adapted scale to assess emotional dependence on AI. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and independent samples t-test. The findings suggest that individuals who perceive AI systems as more human-like are more likely to develop emotional reliance on them. In contrast, technology readiness and social connectedness did not show a significant relationship with emotional dependence. These results highlight that emotional engagement with AI may be shaped more by users’ perceptions of the system rather than their technological familiarity or social environment.
The study contributes to a growing understanding of human–AI interaction and raises important considerations for the design of AI systems that are emotionally engaging without encouraging unhealthy dependence