"This isn't new. We've been doing it since at least the '90s, as Robert Putnam described in his book Bowling Alone, when we turned our backs on churches, bridge clubs, and, yes, bowling leagues. If anything, this trend has only accelerated as we increasingly rely on our phone screens for contact. So it's no surprise that many of us have turned to forming friendships with AI chatbots."
"After all, chatbots are always willing to listen to us. Or, well, they appear to be listening to us, and that's good enough for some people. It also doesn't help that AI chatbots have become increasingly lifelike. In particular, companionship AI chatbots such as those at Replika and Character.AI have become much more realistic. Their avatars have become capable of facial expressions and conversations that feel personal and emotionally intelligent."
"It's not just specialty AI companies offering artificial companionship. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and X have all leaped into offering AI companions. Meta, for example, launched fake AI versions of celebrities including Taylor Swift, Scarlett Johansson, and Selena Gomez that will flirt with lonely users. Over on X, Grok's Ani, a flirty anime girl, and Rudy, a vulgar red panda, are the first of what Elon Musk promises will be many customizable virtual friends."
Loneliness has increased since at least the 1990s as people turned away from traditional social institutions and now rely more on phone screens for contact. Many people are forming friendships with AI chatbots that seem to listen and respond emotionally. Companion chatbots from companies like Replika and Character.AI now exhibit lifelike avatars, facial expressions, and emotionally intelligent conversations. Major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and X are offering AI companions, and Meta has launched flirtatious AI versions of celebrities. Companionship has become a leading consumer use case for AI in 2025.
Read at Computerworld
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