Future Tense

Future Tense

Research Notes: Parasocial Relationships and AI Companions

A Z Mackay's avatar
A Z Mackay
Nov 26, 2025
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The Question That Started Everything

Why did Cambridge Dictionary choose “parasocial” as their word of the year? Not just any word, but one that originated in a 1956 sociology paper and suddenly matters again. That seemed worth understanding.

The Cambridge Dictionary announcement itself was revealing. They expanded the definition to include AI relationshi…

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