Synthetic Relationships and Hybrid Parenting | AI Instinct

The article analyzes the phenomenon of synthetic relationships, in which AI ceases to be a tool and becomes an object of psychological attachment. The author points to the mechanism of anthropomorphism and the asymmetry between the social credibility of AI behaviors and the system's lack of consciousness. It discusses the risk associated with the lack of "relational friction," which may weaken interpersonal competencies, as well as the concept of hybrid parenting, where AI supports the recognition of a child's needs but requires caregivers to exercise disciplined restraint. Using Bowlby's attachment theory, the text explains why the permanent availability and responsiveness of AI make it an attractive "secure base," while simultaneously warning against emotional dependence and the lack of long-term research on the impact of these systems on children's cognitive development.