Thanks for the deep dive, yeah that seems really suspicious, the pdf of that study definitely looks like it was paid for by someone with an agenda. I feel like anyone who’s up for taking a survey on AI is already into AI so it’s pretty skewed. I suppose one thing from that study did make some sense:

Many people who are using AI relationship technologies report that they prefer AI communication over engaging with a real person in a genuine relationship.

Sure, everyone loves a sycophant who hangs on their every word and agrees with them all the time… for a while at least.