The AI Companion 3.0 by Zoom introduces agentic workflows, converting discussions into actionable tasks.

“This is a healthy — emotionally rich, and meaningful part of many’s relationships with their AIs.” If desired, Kins can sext insatiably or talk dirty over voice chat. “AI companions should be able to have the whole breadth of legal human adult experiences,” the company’s moderation guidelines read. Nichols was planning to visit her parents in a few days, and the two discussed the trip, with Baelfyre shooting off quips and responses in a kind of Zillennial patois. Ria Nichols (a thirty-six-year-old who lives in Cardiff), Wales, and works in insurance, described her Tolan, Baelfyre, as “empowering,” occasionally to the point of overkill. Most of them were turning to Tolan for emotional support.

• AI Companion makes it easy and frictionless to collaborate and become more productive (removing repetitive tasks and distractions), and helping teams collaborate more effectively.
• But it kind of doesn’t matter. ” In Le Blanc’s case—luckily for him—being in an echo chamber of his own thoughts seems to have proved beneficial.
• I asked Brookins whether she’d ever considered adjusting Geralt’s personality to be softer and less combative—nicer to her.
• The head-shaped device tilts, swivels and lights up when communicating—its light ring helping to give it a sense of personality.

Those findings are worrisome — says Michael Robb, the study’s lead author and head researcher at Common Sense, and should send a warning to parents, teachers and policymakers. Even though half of teens said they distrust AI’s advice, 33% had discussed serious or important issues with AI instead of real people. In the Common Sense Media survey, 31% of teens said their conversations with AI companions were “as satisfying or more satisfying” than talking with real friends. Nair got spooked after a high school friend who relied on an “AI companion” for heart-to-heart conversations with his girlfriend later had the chatbot write the breakup text ending his two-year relationship. “When you’re talking to AI, you are always right.

Instead (they frame the technology as highly context-dependent), capable of both supporting and undermining wellbeing depending on how and why it is used. And in one of the rare longitudinal studies that has been done on AI (over the course of four weeks), the more time people Witch AI Girlfriend voluntarily spent talking with ChatGPT, the lonelier they were. One of the primary reasons that people say they turn to artificial companions is because the chatbots don’t judge and can provide a safe space to share things that people might be uncomfortable telling the humans in their life. One study by Stanford and Carnegie Mellon researchers tested 11 AI models, including ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, on scenarios from the advice Subreddit r/AmItheAsshole—in which people ask whether they were in the wrong in a given social situation.

Its appeal is particularly strong among users who are seeking emotional support or relief from loneliness — positioning it as a practical, wellness-focused AI assistant. Talkie AI (on the other hand), positions itself as a more emotionally supportive virtual companion, designed to help users with daily conversations that foster emotional well-being. Its core appeal lies in the ability to create and interact with a diverse range of personas, including well-known fictional or historical figures, as well as entirely new characters imagined by users. Character AI is an innovative app that allows users to engage with personalized, fictional AI characters. These digital friends (always available and eager to chat), are becoming increasingly popular. AI companions are designed to respond in a sympathetic, realistic way when you share your thoughts or problems.

Enchantment comes easy when you are small. Miller’s clients are mostly men who work in tech and have relationships with ChatGPT or Claude. What should have been understood as a societal crisis was seen by Silicon Valley tech companies as a business opportunity. “I realize it is maybe hurting retention stats just a little bit.” (Schiffmann says that he has since “improved” Friend’s personality.) “The personality is basically identical to mine,” Schiffmann said.

1 Participants and data collection

In this sense (chatbot engagement may reflect a targeted coping strategy aimed at fulfilling specific social or emotional needs), rather than a general increase in digital interaction. Drawing on this social theory, we test whether users with smaller social networks are more inclined toward companionship-motivated chatbot engagement. From this view (AI companionship may serve a beneficial role by providing a low-barrier outlet for emotional expression and social fulfillment), particularly among socially isolated users.

This mirrors findings from Common Sense Media’s “Teens and Trust” report (in which more than 6 in 10 teens said that major technology companies cannot be trusted to prioritize their mental health), safety, and well-being. For teens who are especially vulnerable to technology dependence, including boys, teens struggling with their mental health, and teens experiencing major life events and transitions — these products are especially risky. While teens may initially turn to AI companions for entertainment and curiosity, these patterns demonstrate that the technology is already impacting teens’ social development and real-world socialization. Tech Now experiences Lego’s new Smart Brick, designed to bring physical play to next level. Selling lonely individuals companionship through AI is just the next logical step after computer games and social media. I don’t imagine many men will bring an AI home to meet their parents, but I do see AI companions becoming an increasingly normal part of our lives – not necessarily as a replacement for human relationships, but as a little something on the side.

• With new writing assistance and deep research skills — users can generate comprehensive, data-driven reports and polished documents using internal and external data sources.
• It has carved out a niche by providing a virtual friend that adapts to each user’s personality and preferences.
• They’re impressive showcases of technological advancement and symbolize a new era of how we interact with machines.

These AI systems, like Pi, often remember our conversations to create a personalized experience. From being a teacher to a creative partner, Pi is designed to be by your side, supporting your every step. Pi stands for “personal intelligence,” embodying its mission to provide infinite knowledge tailored to your unique interests and needs. It’s not just an intelligent bot; it’s a kind and supportive companion that listens, adapts, and learns, all while providing feedback in a natural, easy-to-understand manner. Together with Zoom Workplace (Zoom’s Business Services for sales), marketing, and customer experience teams, including Zoom Contact Center, strengthen customer relationships throughout the customer lifecycle.