A lot of it is just loneliness. Social fabric has been destroyed in so many places that chatbots are easier - especially if you simply don't have the time, money, energy, or opportunities to set up dates with other people. Building a relationship is hard, and takes an awful lot of emotional labor, which you might not have the spoons for if you're working 7 days a week just to make ends meet. I don't like it, but I get people seeing what they want to see.