New findings suggest that men are using conversational AI as a tool for emotional development, particularly around communication, relationships, and self-awareness.
Emotional development is a lifelong, complex process of learning to recognise, understand, express, and manage emotions, beginning in infancy and continuing through adulthood. Some men are less developed in this area, especially when it does not develop sufficiently during early childhood, compared with women.
In a survey of 1,142 men aged 22 to 45 across the U.S. and the U.K. The firm Use.AI found that a significant number are turning to AI for emotional guidance, which they don’t consistently seek from people in their lives.
- 78% of men said they feel more comfortable discussing personal feelings with AI than with friends or family.
- 63% have used AI for advice on sensitive relationship topics. (conflict resolution and emotional expression)
- 55% said AI feedback helped them identify recurring patterns in their communication or emotional responses.
- 48% reported using AI to rehearse difficult conversations before having them in real life.
With the finding that 78% of respondents reported feeling more comfortable discussing personal feelings with AI tools than with friends or family, the report authors interpret this as something that signals a connection between people and new technology. Hence, rather than signalling a rejection of human connection, the data suggest that AI is functioning as an intermediary space, one that lowers the social cost of emotional disclosure and allows users to articulate thoughts before bringing them into real-world relationships.
With the other main findings, these are cases that cluster around relationships and communication. Where 63% of respondents said they had used AI to seek advice on sensitive relationship issues, including conflict resolution, emotional expression, and dating concerns, the authors state that, for many men, the appeal of AI lies in structure rather than validation.
The survey also pinpointed that 55% of male respondents reported that AI feedback helped them identify recurring patterns in their communication or emotional responses, supporting both reflection and behavioural change.
According to the report: “The findings point to a generational recalibration of how men approach emotional development. Where earlier models emphasised peer discussion, mentorship, or self-help literature, AI now offers on-demand guidance that is immediate, private, and procedural.”
Overall, the data suggests AI is functioning less as a replacement for human relationships and more as a low-pressure rehearsal space, lowering the social toll of vulnerability and helping men prepare for emotionally complex interactions.
The findings also add a data-driven angle to ongoing conversations about masculinity, emotional literacy, and why many men struggle to access traditional forms of emotional support.
