In 2024, over one hundred million AI girlfriend apps were downloaded by users around the world. According to DCU professor Debbie GIng, this and other emerging technology should be “a serious cause of concern”. The fact that AI girlfriends will tolerate all kinds of abuse, Ging explained, is a “coding decision”, made in a tech industry that is mostly being “built by men”. But it’s not just AI relationship apps that the professor of digital media and gender says should be of concern. You can listen back to the live show in full - recorded at Chapters Bookstore in Dublin - in the player above or search The Women’s Podcast in your usual podcast app.

Source: The Irish Times March 08, 2026 18:11 UTC