Research Article

Artificial intimacy and synthetic dialogues: Generation Z’s brand interaction and parasocial relationships with ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4o

Number: 70 July 8, 2026
TR EN

Artificial intimacy and synthetic dialogues: Generation Z’s brand interaction and parasocial relationships with ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4o

Abstract

ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence (AI) system developed by OpenAI, offers users an interactive dialogue experience through its human-like responses. The study examines Generation Z’s interactions with ChatGPT within the framework of parasocial relationship theory, aiming to reveal how these interactions are interpreted at the individual level. Seeking to explore how users make sense of these interactions, the study employs a qualitative research methodology and a repeated cross-sectional design that compares two independent participant groups with similar socio-economic, cultural, and professional characteristics at two different points in time. The study examines how users experienced two successive ChatGPT versions. The first phase of the research was conducted in 2023 with ChatGPT-3.5 users, while the second phase was carried out in 2025 with ChatGPT-4o users. The findings indicate that ChatGPT-3.5 was regarded as functional in terms of providing easy access to information and understanding questions yet was perceived as emotionally weak and mechanical. Interactions with ChatGPT-4o, by contrast, were experienced as warmer and more fluent.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Communication Studies

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

July 8, 2026

Submission Date

August 1, 2025

Acceptance Date

June 27, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 70

APA
Bilgici, C., & Özkök Şişman, Ö. (2026). Artificial intimacy and synthetic dialogues: Generation Z’s brand interaction and parasocial relationships with ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4o. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences, 70, 22-42. https://doi.org/10.26650/CONNECTIST2026-1756435
AMA
1.Bilgici C, Özkök Şişman Ö. Artificial intimacy and synthetic dialogues: Generation Z’s brand interaction and parasocial relationships with ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4o. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences. 2026;(70):22-42. doi:10.26650/CONNECTIST2026-1756435
Chicago
Bilgici, Ceren, and Özge Özkök Şişman. 2026. “Artificial Intimacy and Synthetic Dialogues: Generation Z’s Brand Interaction and Parasocial Relationships With ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4o”. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences, nos. 70: 22-42. https://doi.org/10.26650/CONNECTIST2026-1756435.
EndNote
Bilgici C, Özkök Şişman Ö (July 1, 2026) Artificial intimacy and synthetic dialogues: Generation Z’s brand interaction and parasocial relationships with ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4o. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences 70 22–42.
IEEE
[1]C. Bilgici and Ö. Özkök Şişman, “Artificial intimacy and synthetic dialogues: Generation Z’s brand interaction and parasocial relationships with ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4o”, Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences, no. 70, pp. 22–42, July 2026, doi: 10.26650/CONNECTIST2026-1756435.
ISNAD
Bilgici, Ceren - Özkök Şişman, Özge. “Artificial Intimacy and Synthetic Dialogues: Generation Z’s Brand Interaction and Parasocial Relationships With ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4o”. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences. 70 (July 1, 2026): 22-42. https://doi.org/10.26650/CONNECTIST2026-1756435.
JAMA
1.Bilgici C, Özkök Şişman Ö. Artificial intimacy and synthetic dialogues: Generation Z’s brand interaction and parasocial relationships with ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4o. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences. 2026;:22–42.
MLA
Bilgici, Ceren, and Özge Özkök Şişman. “Artificial Intimacy and Synthetic Dialogues: Generation Z’s Brand Interaction and Parasocial Relationships With ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4o”. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences, no. 70, July 2026, pp. 22-42, doi:10.26650/CONNECTIST2026-1756435.
Vancouver
1.Ceren Bilgici, Özge Özkök Şişman. Artificial intimacy and synthetic dialogues: Generation Z’s brand interaction and parasocial relationships with ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4o. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences. 2026 Jul. 1;(70):22-4. doi:10.26650/CONNECTIST2026-1756435