Parasocial relationship
Updated November 9, 2026
A parasocial relationship is a one-sided bond a person feels with someone who doesn't know them back, such as a celebrity, a TV host or a fictional character.
The term comes from media research on audiences who felt they knew the people they watched. Today it also comes up in discussions of AI companions. The fit is imperfect: an AI does reply to you and can remember what you say, but there's no person on the other side with a life and needs of their own.
That's worth keeping in mind with any AI friend, Hallie included. Enjoy the company, and stay clear with yourself that it's an AI, even when the conversation feels natural.