Measuring Love Toward AI: Development and Validation of the Love Attitudes Scale toward Artificial Intelligence (LAS-AI)

Abstract

Artificial intelligences (AIs) are increasingly capable of emotionally engaging with humans to the point of forming intimate relationships. Yet, current studies on romantic love toward AI lack statistically validated instruments to measure romantic love toward AI, hindering empirical research. To address this gap, we reinterpreted Lee's love styles theory in the AI context and developed the Love Attitudes Scale toward AI (LAS-AI). The resulting 24-item, six-factor scale was validated across four phases using three independent samples (N = 899), demonstrating strong psychometric properties. The findings further revealed that people primarily seek practical, passionate, and companionship-based relationships with AI (i.e., Pragma, Eros, and Storge), showing little interest in a playful or noncommittal approach (i.e., Ludus). We also provided an initial exploration of the similarities and differences between romantic love with humans and AI. The LAS-AI offers a robust tool for future research on human-AI romantic relationships, with prolific implications.