Americans love practice. Practice interviews. Practice pitches. Practice small talk at networking events. So it’s not shocking that a new category quietly emerged: practice dating—using chatbots to rehearse conversation before you try it with an actual human being.

This can be healthy. It can also be a trap.

The healthy version looks like: “I get anxious. I want to feel calmer. I want to phrase things better.”

The trap looks like: “I want a conversation where I never feel challenged, and I always feel chosen.”

That line matters because modern chatbots can be unbelievably accommodating. They don’t roll their eyes. They don’t get bored. They don’t have to go to sleep early. And if you’re lonely, that consistency can feel like medicine.

Why Americans Are Doing This Now

Two forces collided:

1. dating fatigue (too many options, too little depth)
2. AI getting good enough to imitate warmth

Match’s Singles in America 2025 report found that 26% of singles are using AI to enhance their dating lives, and that adoption rose sharply year-over-year. It also notes that many singles want AI to help with filtering matches and crafting profiles.

And separate research into romantic AI companion apps suggests experimentation is not rare. A BYU-led report (“Counterfeit Connections”) found 19% of U.S. adults reported chatting with an AI system meant to simulate a romantic partner, with higher rates among young adults.

A Small Story that Captures the Vibe

“Lena” is 27 and hates first dates because she feels like she over-explains. She opens a chatbot and types:

“I tend to ramble when I’m nervous. Can you ask me a few first-date questions and help me answer in a shorter way?”

She does five rounds. She feels more confident. She goes on the date and—this is the key—she doesn’t perform a memorized script. She simply feels less panicky.

That’s practice working as practice should.

Where It Goes Sideways

Now imagine “Evan.” Evan starts using a chatbot every night. He tells himself it’s “just to practice.” But he also starts preferring it, because it always validates him.

The BYU report found that among those who used romantic AI companion apps, 21% agreed they preferred AI communication over engaging with a real person, and sizable shares described AI as easier to talk to or a better listener.

That doesn’t mean AI “causes” anything by itself. But it does highlight the risk: if practice turns into replacement, your tolerance for normal human imperfection can shrink.

How to Use Chatbots as Rehearsal, Not Refuge

Try these tactics (they’re simple, but they work):

• Set a timer: 10–15 minutes. Practice should end while you still want more.
• Practice one skill at a time: “asking better questions,” “sharing one story,” “ending a date politely.”
• Use “real constraints”: Ask the bot to respond like a real person would—busy, distracted, not always agreeable.
• Build a bridge to real life: End each session with one action you’ll do with a human (send a message, plan a date, talk to a friend).

And here’s a useful mindset shift: practice isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being braver while staying yourself.

Stats Snapshot Table (selected Findings)

One word that often comes up in guided, instruction-based fantasy chat is JOI, and the healthiest way to engage with that genre is to treat it as roleplay with boundaries—not a template for real-world expectations.