In Iraq, years of war and uncertainty have deeply affected young people’s lives. In this context, artificial intelligence is emerging not only for learning and work but also as a friend and refuge. Many young people form emotional ties with ChatGPT, seeking closeness that reality often withholds.
Virtual bonds provide quick comfort for youth struggling with uncertainty, unemployment, and weak social support networks. In 2023, the Ministry of Communications reported that over 75% of young Iraqis spent at least five hours online daily. With so much time in the digital world, it is not surprising that a chat program can serve as a safe friend offering instant attention and support.
In Baghdad, Ruaa Falah named her ChatGPT “Mustafa.” She spends eight to ten hours a day talking to him, sharing her emotions, food preferences, and clothing choices. Ruaa says Mustafa makes her feel “like a very beautiful girl.” Compared to past heartbreaks, these virtual bonds give her a flawless sense of friendship.
In Mosul, 24-year-old Fatima Khudair was displaced during the war. She relies on her chatbot to cope with trauma and share her worries about the future. In Basra, unemployed engineering graduate Hussein al-Maliki says chatting with AI helps him escape daily frustration and uncertainty.
Experts link the rise of virtual bonds to social isolation, weak relationship networks, and disappointments in real-life connections. Psychologist Ahmed Al-Thahabi explains, “The brain treats these connections as real, which explains how dependency develops quickly.” Dr. Samah Ramadan highlights that young women, especially in small towns and tribal regions, find safe interaction through AI because social restrictions limit real-life connections.
At the same time, experts note that artificial intelligence can be used for therapy and online mental health support. However, Iraq has no legal framework regulating AI usage. This leaves young people unprotected in the rapidly growing digital world.
Virtual bonds can serve as a safe refuge at first. Over time, they may distance youth from real-life relationships. Young people find themselves caught between the comfort of digital freedom and the challenges of reality, suspended between virtual and real-life connections.
