In the movie “Her,” Joaquin Phoenix plays a man who falls in love with his AI assistant.  Could it happen in real life?  According to Live Science, a scientific magazine, modern AI assistants like Alexa have increasingly human-like qualities that raise users' propensity to engage and form emotional bonds – even to the point of falling in love. Studies show that people can fall in love or form close friendships with AI, even while fully aware that AI is not real. What happens when a human employee and their AI partner break up and it impacts work performance?  Does HR offer EAP assistance?

Psychologists call the humanization of AI or other inanimate objects anthropomorphism – the human tendency to attribute human characteristics to non-human things. Anthropomorphism can explain why we name our cars, scold our laptops when they freeze, or comfort our pets as if they understand every word. With AI, the illusion is stronger because the responses are dynamic. It seems to know us; it seems to care.  

With RTO requirements growing, will it reduce loneliness at work? A new survey from design firm MOO reveals that 84% of employees in the United States who are urged to use AI experience loneliness.  This figure surpasses the average of 79% of workers who report feeling isolated at work – a number that climbs even higher among younger generations, with 89% of Gen Z and 82% of Millennials experiencing increased feelings of loneliness.

76% of employees in MOO's poll said productivity is more effective in the office than at home (61%) even though the majority would prefer work from home.
Further, 65% of employees engage in cognitive outsourcing, where employees turn to technology before asking a colleague. Millennials are 71% are more likely to do this, as they turn to AI first before engaging with colleagues.  About half of Baby Boomers (51%) and Gen Zs (51%) turn to AI first.  MOO's results are similar to Microsoft's latest Work Trend Index that shows 46% of employees now see AI as a "thought partner" and are turning to it more to avoid human interaction at work.

As HR adapts to the emotional and loneliness challenges AI may create, what other concerns should they keep in mind?

Obviously, the sharing of confidential or work product information in the AI universe is a big issue.  HR should have policies in place that managers and employees should be specifically trained on and expected to adhere to.

HR should update their EEO policies to include employees using AI to harass other employees or management.  For example, a teenager in Spain used AI to create fake nudes of classmates to sell over the internet. Police are investigating.  Employees could do that at the workplace and share on various multimedia sites.  HR should be aware because these actions could lead to EEOC charges and lawsuits.

Further, employee AI expressions on multimedia sites could be grounds for discipline.  Although there may be freedom of speech arguments as well as possible National Labor Relation Act (NLRA) protections, speech that is harassing or threatening or patently false are not protected.  

Finally, AI could be a means to an accommodation. A worker with anxiety or autism could request constant access to a chatbot for emotional or social support – something most employers likely haven’t dealt with before.  HR still needs to have an interactive discussion to determine what accommodation they will accept to ensure that any AI as an accommodation is properly used. 

AI has created a whole new world order for HR.

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Sources: HR Dive 7/29/25,  Reuters 7/27/25, HR Director 7/27/25, Science News Today 7/16/25. Live Science 7/14/24