Governing intimacy in the age of AI

Artificial intelligence is increasingly entering spaces once considered deeply personal: companionship, emotional support, intimacy, and trust. As conversational AI systems become more human-like and emotionally responsive, questions once associated with science fiction are rapidly becoming part of real societal and political debates.

These developments were at the center of the panel Intimacy-by-Design: Governing Human-AI Relationships at Computers, Privacy and Data Protection Conference (CPDP 2026) in Brussels. The international conference is widely regarded as one of the leading global forums on privacy, data protection, and digital governance, bringing together researchers, policy-makers, industry representatives, regulators, and civil society to discuss the future of digital society.

The panel was organized by researchers from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Ruhr University Bochum and the University of Kassel. It was closely connected to the interdisciplinary research project SENTIMENT, which investigates how people interact with conversational AI systems in emotionally sensitive contexts.

Representing Universität Duisburg-Essen and the Research Center Trustworthy Data Science and Security (RC Trust) of the University Alliance Ruhr, Dr. Jessica Szczuka contributed perspectives from psychology and human-AI interaction research to the interdisciplinary discussion.

The research presented during the discussion showed that users increasingly form emotionally meaningful relationships with AI companions and frequently disclose highly personal information while interacting with them. These interactions can create a strong sense of emotional closeness and continuity – even though users are communicating with algorithmic systems rather than human partners.

Jessica Szczuka’s research focuses on exactly these dynamics. As Head of the research group INTITEC – Intimacy with and through Technology, she investigates how technologies shape close relationships, emotional authenticity, and interpersonal communication. Her work particularly examines human relationships with AI conversational agents, the psychological dimensions of digital intimacy, and the opportunities and risks emerging from emotionally responsive technologies.

At CPDP 2026, the discussion therefore moved beyond technical questions alone. The panel explored how AI companion systems are deliberately designed to encourage emotional attachment and sustained interaction – an approach described as “Intimacy-by-Design.” The concept builds on established ideas such as “Privacy-by-Design” and raises broader questions about responsibility, transparency, and user protection in AI development.

Among the key concerns discussed were power asymmetries between users and platforms, insufficient protection mechanisms for younger audiences, and the handling of highly sensitive relational and emotional data. Participants also addressed whether current regulatory frameworks are sufficiently prepared for AI systems that intentionally simulate emotional presence and companionship.

At the same time, the panel highlighted the importance of nuanced debate. Conversational AI can also provide emotional support, accessibility, and social connection – particularly for individuals who may experience loneliness, exclusion, or barriers in offline environments. Understanding these systems therefore requires perspectives from multiple disciplines, including psychology, computer science, law, governance research, and the arts.

This interdisciplinary perspective is central to the SENTIMENT project, which brings together expertise from different research fields to better understand how privacy, trust, emotional authenticity, and vulnerability emerge in interactions between humans and AI systems.

Against the backdrop of ongoing European debates around AI regulation, digital sovereignty, and platform responsibility, the panel illustrated how closely technological innovation and human experience are becoming intertwined. As AI systems continue to move deeper into everyday and emotional life, research like that of Jessica Szczuka and her collaborators contributes important evidence to discussions about how these technologies can be designed responsibly, transparently, and with human well-being in mind.