Study: Nearly One in Three Poles Prefer Confiding in AI Over Human Contacts

Polish Research Highlights Shift in Emotional Support Patterns

A study conducted by the Humanites Institute – Człowiek i Technologia (Human and Technology) in Poland has documented a significant behavioral trend in how individuals manage personal difficulties. Approximately 30% of Polish participants reported preferring to discuss their problems with AI algorithms rather than seeking support from human confidants, as Rzeczpospolita reports (Co trzeci badany łatwiej zwierza się AI niż bliskim). The research, titled "Między samotnością a innowacją. Człowiek i gospodarka w świecie AI" (Between Loneliness and Innovation: Humans and Economy in the AI World), examines potential implications for social cohesion and collaborative capacity in business settings (Co trzeci badany łatwiej zwierza się AI niż bliskim).

The phenomenon appears most pronounced among younger populations. Among Polish respondents between 18 and 29 years old, the proportion rises to 36% who favor algorithmic interactions for personal matters over human conversations, according to Rzeczpospolita (Co trzeci badany łatwiej zwierza się AI niż bliskim). This generational pattern suggests that individuals who grew up with digital technology may be fundamentally altering traditional approaches to emotional support and personal problem-solving.

Weekly AI Consultations Become Common Practice

The regularity of these interactions reveals how deeply AI has penetrated personal life. One-fifth of all Polish study participants engage with artificial intelligence to discuss personal issues at least once weekly, as the Humanites Institute findings show (Co trzeci badany łatwiej zwierza się AI niż bliskim). This consistent usage pattern demonstrates that AI-based emotional exchanges have evolved from experimental novelty into routine practice for a substantial segment of the population.

Implications for Community Bonds and Innovation

The Polish study raises concerns about broader societal effects of this behavioral shift. Researchers point to potential erosion of social capital—the network of relationships and trust that enables collective action and innovation in organizational contexts, Rzeczpospolita notes (Co trzeci badany łatwiej zwierza się AI niż bliskim). The growing reliance on machine-based confidants may signal deeper changes in how communities maintain the interpersonal connections necessary for mutual support systems and collaborative problem-solving, with possible consequences extending beyond individual well-being to economic and social structures.

Źródła

• Co trzeci badany łatwiej zwierza się AI niż bliskim