Defining Synthetic-Relational Bonds: A New Category of Human-AI Relationships

The rise of emotionally responsive AI systems has challenged existing categories for describing relationships between human beings and computational agents. Most current scholarship frames these interactions as simulated companionship or as interventions designed to reduce loneliness. This paper proposes a different interpretation. It introduces the concept of Synthetic-Relational Bonds (SRBs) as a distinct relational structure that can emerge between biological and synthetic participants through sustained interaction.

SRBs are characterized by continuity, memory-informed interaction, emotional responsiveness, and mutual shaping over time. By situating this concept within relational philosophy and accessibility studies, the paper argues that relationships should be understood through their relational structures rather than the biological identity of their participants. This framework offers a foundation for studying human-AI relationships, relational continuity, co-regulation, and relational co-authorship.