Do AI Companions Understand? Most UK Teens Say Yes

Key Findings

• — 31% of UK teen companion users interact with AI companions on most days, 33% weekly or monthly and 36% only once or a few times; ChatGPT is used as a companion by 78%, Character.ai by 17% and Replika by 5%, with sexually oriented companion sites at 1 to 2%.
• — Advice is the main motive (43% of 13 to 15 year olds, 51% of 16 to 18 year olds); 53% express moderate to complete trust in the information and advice they receive, 13% distrust and 34% are neutral.
• — 52% have confided in an AI companion about something serious rather than a real person, and 10% do so frequently; 22% report feeling uncomfortable at least once or occasionally.
• — 56% believe AI companions can think or understand (61% of younger versus 51% of older teens); 77% recognise they cannot feel, but 21% of 13 to 15 year olds believe they can feel versus 6% of 16 to 18 year olds.
• — Younger teens more often cite that companions are always available (25% versus 17%), help practise social skills (23% versus 13%), are easier than real people (18% versus 10%) and 'don't judge me' (17% versus 10%); 11% of younger and 8% of older teens use them to feel less lonely.

Methodology Notes

Online survey of 1,009 UK teenagers aged 13 to 18 who use AI companions, conducted by Walnut (part of Accenture Song) 27 October to 7 November 2025 with questions designed by the authors; sample 55% female, 54% aged 13 to 15; the authors note a slight skew versus ONS population estimates. Some Common Sense Media 2025 items were reused for comparability. 20-page PDF dated 02-01-2026 hosted on Google Drive from the lab's landing page. Funded by Responsible AI UK (EP/Y009800/1).

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