Outcome‑First Relationship Standard

Judge human–AI relationships by the concrete needs they satisfy (loneliness reduction, emotional support, conversational scaffolding) rather than by whether the AI is conscious. This reframes ethical and policy debates toward measurable social and mental‑health outcomes and away from abstract claims about 'authenticity'. — Shifting the debate to an outcome‑first standard changes regulation, caregiving policy, and cultural norms around AI companions and grief tools.