Relationship with AI chatbots will influence Word of the Year in 2025

AI chatbots, Taylor Swift, and social media influencers all contributed to Cambridge Dictionary’s 2025 Word of the Year: ‘Parasocial’.

Parasocial, revealed as the word of the year by the World Dictionary on Tuesday, refers to the connection people feel to online personalities, from celebrities to podcasters and even artificial intelligence.

“Parasocial relationships are when we think we know someone, or feel very close to someone we’ve never actually met, such as a celebrity, an influencer, or someone who has become famous for some reason in public life,” Simone Schnall, a professor of experimental social psychology at the University of Cambridge, told CNBC Make It.

“In reality, of course, it’s just a one-sided, so-called relationship,” she added.

The term originated in 1956 when University of Chicago sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wall discovered that people watching television treated the actors on screen like friends and family.

Schnall explained that while the “phenomenon” is well known in our culture, it’s only now that people are using the term more commonly.

“It’s been around forever, but I think parasocial people are being reinforced in our culture now because there are so many opportunities for that. There are so many people that we can be interested in and fascinated by and inspired by, for whatever reason,” she said.

As an example, singer and billionaire Taylor Swift has a rabid fan base around the world thanks to her relatable songs. Many of her fans report that they have a deep emotional connection with her and continue to follow her personal life and romantic relationships.

Another example is Logan Paul, a social media influencer and Youtuber who has approximately 27 million followers on Instagram and 23 million subscribers on YouTube.

In 2018, Paul posted a video showing people dying in Japan’s Aokigahara “suicide forest”, sparking global outrage. Many of his devoted fans defended him and remained fiercely loyal despite the seriousness of the subject matter. Paul later apologized for the video.

Schnall warned that there are “dangers” in following celebrities and social media influencers who may share false medical advice, sell inferior products or promote unethical behavior.

“They (influencers) can cause serious harm to their followers. People who feel they are in such parasocial relationships can actually be harmed by it,” Schnall warned.

Cambridge Dictionary noted that part of the rise in popularity of the term “parasocial” is due to the relationships formed by AI chatbots.

According to a 2025 report by Common Sense Media that surveyed 1,060 U.S. teens, 72% of teens ages 13 to 17 have used an AI companion at least once. This was for a variety of reasons: emotional or mental health support, or as a friend or confidante.

“They’re called chatbots because it feels like we’re already chatting with someone,” Schnall said. “People can form certain relationships, such as friendships or romantic relationships, or at least feel that way, even if, of course, no one else is actually involved.”

And it’s not just teenagers. In a recent survey of more than 1,000 American adults conducted by Vantage Point Counseling, 28% said they had had a romantic or intimate relationship with an AI.

Schnall cited two reasons why people are turning to parasocial relationships: the global epidemic of loneliness and increased screen time.

On the phone or screen, parasocial relationships are just a click away, making it easier to gain instant social approval. Chatbots, on the other hand, are designed to flatter users, Schnall said.

“People tend to be more lonely than previous generations, they spend so much time on screens, and these parasocial relationships are established very easily,” she says.

Schnall said the antidote is to invest in real-life relationships because the more time we spend online, the less time we spend pursuing in-person connections.

“The more time you spend chatting with chatbots, the less time you’ll probably spend chatting with real people,” she added.