The Short Version
The word "equivalent" does the heavy lifting in this claim — and the evidence does not support it. While peer-reviewed studies show AI companions can produce short-term loneliness reductions comparable to brief online human chats, these effects diminish over time and do not extend to the reciprocity, vulnerability, and sustained support that characterize real human relationships. Multiple longitudinal studies find heavier AI companion use is associated with worse outcomes, including emotional dependence and deepened loneliness.