This year, Collins Dictionary chose “vibe coding” – a form of coding which AI enthusiasts speculate could be done with plain-language AI prompts rather than coding languages – as their word of the year.

And the Cambridge Dictionary’s pick, “parasocial,” can also relate to artificial intelligence, their site says.

“As social media intensifies the intimacy that fans feel with their adored celebrities, and with the rise in popularity of AI companions that can take on personalities, the word for these one-way relationships – parasocial – is having its own moment,” Cambridge Dictionary wrote.

But what is a parasocial relationship, and how healthy are they?

Here, we spoke to Helen Wells, Clinical Director and Psychotherapist at The Dawn Rehab Thailand, about what the word means, why it happens, and when it’s of concern.

What is a “parasocial relationship”?

“The word ‘parasocial’ is used to describe one-sided emotional ties people form with others they don’t know,” Wells told is.

Historically, the term was often used to refer to fans’ feelings about celebrities. But, the therapist told us, it’s now “increasingly being used to describe the unrequited connections people form with influencers, fictional characters, and even AI chatbots”.........

© HuffPost