Lori Andrews: People are turning to AI chatbots for companionship. Is this robot love risky?
January 16, 2026
“Alexa, will you marry me?” When Amazon founder Jeff Bezos reported in 2016 that over 250,000 people had proposed to their Alexa devices, commentators laughed it off. But by 2026, people have said, “I do,” to avatars, chatbots and robots in ceremonies around the world. The American Marriage Ministries, which certifies marriage officiants, offers a guide to human-artificial intelligence ceremonies, including inviting the AI to read a poem or create a holographic slide show of the couple.
As a law professor who studies the impact of new technologies on individuals, relationships and social institutions, I can understand the appeal of a manufactured spouse. They can be kinder, prettier, more comforting and smarter than the human version. They are available whenever you want them — and never fight for control of the remote.
