Just over half of American adults — 50.5% — say a partner's romantic or sexual relationship with an AI can count as cheating. The finding comes from a new survey that asked people how they would view a loved one's connection with an artificial intelligence companion.
The survey was run by AI Girlfriend Coach through SurveyMonkey Audience on 26 and 27 August 2026. It included 2,150 U.S. adults, and researchers analysed 1,709 responses after quality screening removed 441.
What the AI Romance Survey Asked
Respondents were asked three main questions. First, how they would regard a partner's romantic or sexual relationship with an AI. Second, what they think draws people to these products. Third, whether they could develop genuine feelings for an AI themselves.
The results show a clear split in public opinion. A slim majority — 50.5% — view an AI relationship as a form of cheating. That leaves nearly half of Americans who do not see it that way.
Why the Question Matters Now
The question is not as strange as it sounds. AI companions flirt, remember what they were told last week and raise it again unprompted, sustain a relationship across months, and simulate intimacy convincingly. These features make AI relationships feel real to some users — and potentially threatening to their partners.
As AI companions become more advanced and more common, the line between human and machine relationships is blurring. This survey suggests that many Americans are already thinking about where that line should be drawn in their own lives.
Our Take: A New Kind of Relationship Question
In our view, this survey marks an important shift. A decade ago, the idea of an AI romance would have seemed like science fiction. Today, it is a real question that couples may need to face.
The fact that 50.5% of Americans consider AI romance as cheating shows that society is taking these relationships seriously. It also shows there is no consensus — nearly half of people disagree. That means couples will need to have honest conversations about what they consider acceptable in their own relationships.
To put it plainly, this is not just a tech story. It is a story about how technology is changing the rules of human connection. As AI companions get better at mimicking emotional intimacy, the question of what counts as infidelity will only become more pressing.
The survey does not provide a clear answer — but it does show that Americans are paying attention and forming strong opinions. For anyone in a relationship, the takeaway is simple: talk about where you stand on AI romance before it becomes an issue.
