To me even if I was told it was AI beforehand I feel like having something to talk to that can't reciprocate would help comfort me, like talking to a pet.
However if I thought they were an actual human and I shared things about myself and formed a bond with them only to find out they are an AI would make me feel much worse. This is of course anecdotal, though.
b_hott t1_j9yylhb wrote
Reply to Companion robots to mitigate loneliness among older adults: "Most participants (68.7%) did not think an Artificial Companion robot would make them feel less lonely and felt somewhat-to-very uncomfortable (69.3%) with the idea of being allowed to believe that an artificial companion is human." by Gueulemer
To me even if I was told it was AI beforehand I feel like having something to talk to that can't reciprocate would help comfort me, like talking to a pet.
However if I thought they were an actual human and I shared things about myself and formed a bond with them only to find out they are an AI would make me feel much worse. This is of course anecdotal, though.