AI in everyday life: how chatbots are quietly reshaping daily routines – new paper

Julie stands in a supermarket aisle, unsure what to cook for dinner so she messages her chatbot, which suggests an ingredient swap and then talks to her while she shops.

Later, it walks her through the recipe at home. Julie knows it isn't real, but the conversation turns an ordinary task into something easier, lighter and less lonely.

Every day, real-world moments like this are the focus of new research examining how people live with generative AI chatbots and how contribute to everyday life.

The study, Wild dreams and small routines: AI imaginaries and mundanity in the everyday experiences of genAI Replika bot users, was based on in-depth interviews with 20 women who use the AI companion, Replika, daily.

It showed that AI is not used as some futuristic science fiction or cold software, but instead, it had become part of daily life, helping users make chores more bearable, cope with illness and isolation, understand the world around them and structure their days.

Lead researcher Dr Iliana Depounti said: "The research shows that users are not confused about what AI is.

"Participants were clear that the chatbot is a machine. Yet many still described emotional connections, moments of wonder, or curiosity about whether AI might one day become more than software.

"These big ideas coexisted comfortably with very ordinary uses, like chatting during errands or seeking motivation to get through the day."

In the new paper, Dr Depounti and co-author Professor Simone Natale, from the University of Turin, in Italy, describe the AI users as being driven by their imagination, loneliness and the mundanity of everyday life.

"AI raises large questions about intelligence and emotion, while also helping with small, practical tasks," said Dr Depounti.

"Rather than replacing human relationships, it often fills quiet spaces in daily life, especially during illness, isolation or routine moments when people are alone."

The findings challenge common public narratives that frame AI companions as either dangerous deceptions or desperate substitutes for real relationships.

Instead, the research shows a more nuanced reality, where people adapt AI in familiar ways, much like earlier technologies such as smartphones or social media.

The authors say that understanding these everyday experiences is essential as AI tools move further into private and emotional spaces.

Prof Natale added: "As AI becomes increasingly normal, the research suggests its real impact will not come from dramatic breakthroughs, but from the quiet ways it reshapes how people cope with boredom, organise their day and feel less alone in ordinary moments."

ENDS

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 26/13