Artificial intelligence is changing how we work, communicate, and increasingly, how we relate to one another. But for many young people, AI is becoming more than a tool, it is becoming a source of companionship.

 Teens and Gen Z are among the largest users of AI companions. A Common Sense Media study found that 72% of U.S. teens have interacted with an AI companion, with 52% using them regularly. A significant number of young adults are also turning to AI companions, and roughly one in four believe AI partners could eventually replace real-life relationships.

In March of 2024, ten couples, each with a member serving in the Israel Defense Forces, were united in a simultaneous wedding ceremony in Tel Aviv — one of the largest Jewish weddings ever held in Israel. The event, part of Chabad of Savyon’s “Marrying the Warriors” initiative, took place at the Hangar 11 event hall in Tel Aviv Port, with ten wedding canopies and individual officiating Rabbis, and each couple inviting 100 guests. Following the ceremony, a joint celebration included performances by top Israeli artists.

Many of these soldiers had postponed their weddings due to the war. Couples included some with high security clearance and lone soldiers from abroad.