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Discussion about an intimate relationship with a chatbot is a new type of betrayal.

In a partnership, both people can experience pain and a sense of infidelity when chatbots provide advice.

Betrayal involving AI conversations is less likely to have been discussed in a relationship before it happens.

In Lindsey Hall’s viral Substack post, “I Stumbled Across My Boyfriend's ChatGPT, and It Ended Our Relationship,” the author describes what it was like to accidentally come across numerous saved chat logs in which her partner was seeking support and advice from ChatGPT about their relationship. Chat gets very involved, and after Hall’s partner shares some doubts, Chat guided, "Then you should consider ending it."

In my sex and relationship therapy practice, I am seeing a new type of betrayal. As more people use chatbots for therapy and guidance (the number one use case for the past two years), it becomes easier to access our partners’ private thoughts. What would otherwise be a totally confidential conversation with another person instead becomes an ongoing written dialogue, often happening while we are in the room, without our awareness.

Practical barriers to our partners’ thoughts and feelings have been removed. Instead of actively seeking out our partner’s diary and........

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