Man’s best girlfriend?
A viral TikTok trend shows pet owners using AI to create human versions of their furry friends, which a shocking number of people say they would date.
A recent MetLife Pet Insurance survey into the habits of 1,000 US pet owners revealed that 31 percent of those familiar with the trend would date their AI result.
The eyebrow-raising fad started with people asking ChatGPT's AI image generator, which became free for users in April, to visualize their pets as humans. The poll found that 36 percent of respondents are aware of the TikTok trend, and 14 percent have tried it.
GenX and baby boomers were the most open to the idea of dating their pet’s human version, the poll found.
Gen X/baby boomer cat owners were the most likely to date their pet’s human form than dog owners (45 percent to 29 percent), while millennials showed the opposite pattern. However, 39 percent of all pet owners admitted their pet would be a “walking red flag” if human.
A large majority, 88 percent, think they’d get along with their pet if it were human, according to the survey.
Back in the real world, many pet owners form deep emotional bonds with their animals, as 38 percent say they rely on their pet more than any human relationship, with Gen Z feeling this most strongly at 43 percent.
Most people express love frequently (57 percent say “I love you” to their pet multiple times a day), and 77 percent believe their pet provides better emotional support than a past partner.
Four in five (81 percent) of respondents said they refuse to date someone who doesn’t like their pet, and a striking 87 percent would be willing to give up their dream apartment if it weren’t pet-friendly.
Over three in five (66 percent) pet owners put their pet’s needs, such as vet visits and daily comfort, above their own wants.
