United Kingdom, Dec. 19 -- One in three Brits are using artificial intelligence (AI) for emotional support.

The AI Security Institute (AISI) has revealed that 33 per cent of people polled had turned to AI tools such as ChatGPT for "emotional purposes" over the past year.

The survey of 2,000 people found that a majority were turning to AI for social and emotional interactions, although five per cent used bots specifically designed as friends or romantic partners.

The usage frequency will add to safety concerns that have been raised about the responses that are provided by chatbots.

The report states: "While many users report positive experiences, recent high-profile cases of harm underline the need for research in this area."

The find...