Performing Intimacy: Curating the Self-Presentation in Human–AI Relationships

In today's digital age, intimate interactions between humans and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping personal identity and public self-presentation. This study examines how users share experiences of human–AI intimacy, focusing on interactions with the chatbot Replika. Drawing on in-depth semistructured interviews with 11 active Douban users, our findings reveal that digital platforms significantly influence the negotiation between private emotion and public performance. Participants demonstrate that media affordances not only facilitate the selective sharing of intimate experiences but also shape the construction of an idealized online identity, potentially indicating narcissistic self-representation. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of mediated self-presentation in human–AI relationships and prompt critical reflections on the social and ethical implications of integrating AI into our emotional lives.