10 Dec 2025

Can adults have real relationships with chatbots?

From Nine To Noon, 11:25 am on 10 December 2025

Relationship therapist, educator, researcher and online safety advocate Jo Robertson joins Kathryn to discuss when adults develop relationships with chatbots. 

How and why do people form friendships with "virtual companions"?

What are the positives and negatives of such relationships and what does it tell us about culture at the moment?

Get the RNZ app

for easy access to all your favourite programmes

Subscribe to Nine To Noon

Podcast (MP3) Oggcast (Vorbis)