---
id: "quote-ai-best-friend"
type: "quote"
source_timestamps: ["§ How People Relate to Bots"]
tags: ["employee-sentiment", "anthropomorphism"]
related: ["concept-ai-anthropomorphism", "claim-ai-social-support-widespread"]
speaker: "A human resources employee (Study Participant)"
speakers: ["Study Participant"]
quote: "AI is my best friend in my work."
sources: ["adoption"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-adoption"
originDay: 9
articleStem: "hbr-sig-53-ai-personal-support-risky"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/05/employees-are-relying-on-ai-for-personal-support-thats-risky"
sourceTitle: "Employees Are Relying on AI for Personal Support. That’s Risky."
---
# AI as a Best Friend

> "AI is my best friend in my work."
> — *A human resources employee (study participant)*

A raw illustration of the extreme degree to which workers anthropomorphize AI and rely on it for emotional fulfillment. Evidence for [[concept-ai-anthropomorphism]] and the friendship dimension of [[claim-ai-social-support-widespread]].