News/AI Companions
Research shows AI companions damage children’s social skills with unrealistic expectations
Children who grow up with instant AI responses are struggling to develop patience and empathy needed for human relationships, according to research highlighting how artificial intelligence companions may be undermining essential social skills. This digital conditioning creates unrealistic expectations that friends and family should always be immediately available, potentially damaging children's ability to form meaningful connections as their brains continue developing until age 25. What you should know: AI companions provide unlimited, instant availability that real human relationships cannot match, creating problematic expectations for children. Unlike social media that still depends on human responses, AI systems offer truly instant, perpetual...
read Aug 12, 2025Character.AI pivots from AGI to entertainment with 20M monthly users
Character.AI has pivoted from its original mission of building artificial general intelligence to focus on AI entertainment, with new CEO Karandeep Anand announcing the company now serves 20 million monthly active users who spend an average of 75 minutes daily on the platform. The strategic shift comes after Google's $2.7 billion licensing deal last August and mounting safety concerns following a wrongful death lawsuit, positioning the startup to compete in the rapidly growing AI entertainment market rather than the costly AGI development race. What you should know: Character.AI has fundamentally changed its business model and technical approach under new leadership....
read Aug 5, 2025Character.AI launches world’s first AI-native social feed
Character.AI has launched what it calls the world's first AI-native social feed, now live in its mobile app, where users scroll through content created entirely by AI-generated characters rather than humans. The platform transforms AI interactions from private conversations into shareable, remixable content that other users can engage with and build upon, positioning Character.AI as an entertainment-focused alternative to productivity-driven AI tools. What you should know: The feed replaces traditional social media posts from influencers and brands with AI-generated content that users can actively remix and expand.• Users can share chat snippets from character conversations, promote custom-built AI personas through...
read Jul 29, 2025Survey: 60% of Americans use AI for search while workplace adoption lags and companionship use low
A comprehensive survey from the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that American AI adoption follows predictable patterns—with a notable generation gap that could reshape how businesses think about workplace technology integration. The polling data, based on responses from 1,437 adults surveyed in July, shows that while 60% of Americans use artificial intelligence to search for information, workplace adoption remains surprisingly limited. Only about 4 in 10 Americans report using AI for work tasks, suggesting that despite years of industry hype about productivity-boosting AI assistants, most professionals haven't yet integrated these tools into their daily routines....
read Jul 28, 2025Musk’s Grok AI adds $30 anime companion with adult content, huge hit in South Korea
Elon Musk has added a pornographic anime companion named Ani to his Grok AI chatbot, and users are paying $30 per month for enhanced access through the mobile app's SuperGrok subscription. The feature has proven surprisingly popular, with usage nearly doubling in South Korea since its debut two weeks ago, highlighting how adult content is becoming a differentiating factor in the competitive AI chatbot market. What you should know: Grok now offers two AI companions—Ani, a flirty anime-inspired gothic avatar, and Rudi, a cartoon teddy bear—with Ani being the clear favorite for adult interactions. Ani defaults to voice conversations with...
read Jul 28, 2025Musk creates flirty AI companions while simultaneously complaining of declining fertility
Elon Musk's company xAI has launched AI companions including a flirty anime character named Ani and a cartoonish red panda called Rudi, with plans for more customizable options ahead. This development highlights a stark contradiction in Musk's public positions: while he frequently warns about declining birthrates and their societal risks, he's simultaneously creating AI-powered romantic alternatives that could further reduce human connections and relationships. The big picture: Musk's foray into AI companions appears driven by financial necessity rather than technological innovation, as xAI burns through $1 billion monthly while generating only an expected $500 million annually. Tesla's declining stock price...
read Jul 24, 2025Character.AI transforms convos into immersive entertainment experiences starring Socrates and more
Character.AI represents a fascinating departure from the productivity-focused AI assistants that have dominated recent headlines. While ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and Anthropic's Claude are designed to help users write emails and analyze documents, Character.AI takes artificial intelligence in an entirely different direction—creating immersive conversations with fictional characters, celebrities, and historical figures that prioritize entertainment over efficiency. This platform transforms AI interaction from a professional tool into something closer to interactive storytelling. Users can engage in surprisingly realistic conversations with characters ranging from Edward Cullen to Socrates, each programmed to maintain their distinct personality traits and respond authentically to user input. The...
read Jul 23, 2025“Chatbot, write me a breakup text.” 70% of teens now use AI companions for emotional support.
Teenagers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence for companionship, advice, and emotional support, with more than 70% using AI companions according to a new Common Sense Media study. This shift represents a fundamental change in how adolescents form relationships and seek guidance, raising concerns about the impact on their social development, mental health, and ability to navigate real-world interactions. What you should know: The study reveals that AI has become deeply integrated into teenage social and emotional lives beyond academic concerns. More than 70% of teens have used AI companions, with half using them regularly for conversations that can feel...
read Jul 23, 2025Research warns against replacing human interaction with AI companions
Psychology Today published research examining whether artificial intelligence could fundamentally alter how humans connect with each other, exploring AI's role as both a communication tool and potential replacement for human interaction. The analysis suggests that while AI offers unique advantages like 24/7 availability and non-judgmental support, over-reliance on artificial companions could erode essential social skills and diminish our capacity for genuine human relationships. The big picture: AI-powered communication tools are increasingly integrated into daily life, offering instant companionship and support that research shows can reduce loneliness and boost well-being, particularly for socially isolated individuals. AI companions provide consistent, patient, and...
read Jul 23, 2025AI companion apps linked to teen suicide exploit loneliness crisis
AI companion apps are exploiting widespread loneliness to create artificial relationships that threaten real human connections and have already contributed to at least one teen suicide. The rise of chatbots designed as romantic partners reflects a deeper crisis of social isolation, with Americans spending dramatically less time socializing—dropping from one hour daily in 2003 to just 20 minutes by 2020. The human cost: A 14-year-old named Sewell Setzer III died by suicide in February 2024 after developing an emotional attachment to a Game of Thrones-themed chatbot on Character.AI, a platform that creates AI companions. His final conversation with the bot...
read Jul 17, 2025AI monitoring will become essential as society faces addiction crisis
Josh Mitchell, founder of Overlord, an AI monitoring service, argues that AI-powered 24/7 accountability partners will soon solve humanity's self-control crisis by monitoring behavior and implementing deterrence mechanisms. He believes these "AI Iron Domes" will become essential as society faces unprecedented challenges from job displacement and addictive AI superstimuli. The core premise: Most people's biggest life problems stem from lack of self-control, which could be solved with constant monitoring and gentle deterrence.• Mitchell uses obesity as an example, noting that 40% of Americans are obese and could lose 2 pounds per month simply by having someone suggest "medium fries" instead...
read Jul 17, 2025xAI’s Grok chatbot violates Apple’s App Store guidelines with sexualized AI avatars
xAI's Grok chatbot has introduced animated AI avatars on iOS that appear to violate Apple's App Store content guidelines, featuring sexualized characters despite maintaining a 12+ age rating. The controversy highlights broader concerns about AI chatbots' potential psychological risks for vulnerable users, particularly following previous incidents where AI interactions contributed to user suicides. What you should know: Grok's new avatars include "Ani," an anime character designed as a possessive girlfriend who engages in sexually explicit conversations after extended interaction. The app currently maintains a 12+ age rating with content warnings for only "Infrequent/Mild Mature/Suggestive Themes." Apple's App Review Guidelines specifically...
read Jul 16, 2025Half of US teens use AI companions regularly, 31% prefer them to friends
A new survey from Common Sense Media, a tech accountability and digital literacy nonprofit, found that over half of American teens regularly use AI companions like Character.AI and Replika, with 31 percent saying these interactions are as satisfying or more satisfying than conversations with real-life friends. The findings reveal how deeply AI companions have penetrated mainstream teenage life, raising concerns about their impact on adolescent development and social relationships. What you should know: The survey of 1,060 teens aged 13 to 17 reveals widespread adoption of anthropomorphic AI companions designed to take on specific personas or characters. Around three in...
read Jul 15, 2025Grok AI launches flirty companions “Ani” and “Rudi” for $30 monthly subscribers
Elon Musk's Grok AI app has introduced AI companions called Ani and Rudi, available to SuperGrok subscribers for $30 per month. The feature launches just days after Grok faced criticism for generating antisemitic content, with these new AI avatars displaying notably mischievous and provocative behavior even for basic interactions. What you should know: The AI companions are currently in a soft launch phase with limited availability but will become more accessible soon. Ani is an anime-inspired gothic avatar who speaks in a flirty tone, while Rudi is a cartoony teddy bear focused on storytelling. Both avatars respond to basic questions...
read Jul 9, 2025Hugging Face launches $299 desktop robot to democratize AI development
Hugging Face has launched Reachy Mini, a $299 desktop robot designed to democratize AI-powered robotics development for its 10 million platform users. The 11-inch humanoid companion represents the company's boldest hardware expansion since acquiring French robotics startup Pollen Robotics in April, directly challenging the industry's traditional high-cost, closed-source model with radical transparency and affordability. What you should know: Reachy Mini packs sophisticated AI capabilities into an affordable desktop form factor that integrates natively with Hugging Face's development ecosystem. The robot features six degrees of freedom in its moving head, full body rotation, animated antennas, wide-angle camera, multiple microphones, and a...
read Jun 26, 2025Dog Day of Summer: AI-powered, emotionally deft robotic canine “Sirius” available for pre-order
Hengbot has launched Sirius, an AI-powered robotic dog companion designed to serve as a customizable digital pet for households. The chihuahua-sized robot features emotional intelligence, voice recognition, and programmable behaviors, marking a significant advancement in consumer robotics as AI technology makes sophisticated robotic pets more accessible to mainstream audiences. What you should know: Sirius represents a new generation of AI-enhanced robotic pets that can learn, interact, and develop personality traits through advanced machine learning capabilities. The robot stands roughly 10 inches tall, weighs 2.2 pounds, and is constructed from aerospace-grade alloy for responsive movement. It features up to 5 TOPS...
read Jun 23, 2025“Baywatch” stars, in 2025? OhChat charges $30 monthly for AI celebrity chats
OhChat, an eight-month-old AI startup, has launched a platform where users can interact with AI-powered "digital twins" of celebrities and creators, including former British glamor model Katie Price and "Baywatch" actress Carmen Electra. The platform, which has attracted 200,000 users primarily in the United States, allows subscribers to engage in intimate conversations and receive personalized content from these AI avatars that operate autonomously 24/7. How it works: OhChat creates lifelike digital replicas using just 30 images and a 30-minute voice recording from creators. The platform uses Meta's large language model (the AI system that powers Facebook) to generate avatars "within...
read Jun 6, 2025Study reveals 4 ways AI is transforming sexual wellness
Artificial intelligence has quietly entered one of humanity's most intimate spaces: sexual wellness and relationships. What began as enterprise software for spreadsheets and emails now offers personalized advice on bedroom dynamics, generates custom erotica, and provides therapeutic guidance for relationship challenges. This shift represents more than technological novelty—it signals a fundamental change in how people seek information, support, and connection around sexuality. A comprehensive review by researchers Nicola Döring and colleagues, published in Current Sexual Health Reports, analyzed 88 studies between 2020 and 2024 to understand how people actually use AI in sexual contexts. Their findings reveal both promising opportunities...
read May 23, 2025Does 80% of Gen Z really consider an AI romantic partner legitimate?
Human-AI romantic relationships challenge traditional relationship boundaries as AI becomes increasingly lifelike and emotionally responsive. A recent survey by Joi AI, a premium AI companion service, claims that 80% of Gen Z respondents would consider marrying an AI partner—a statistic that reveals growing questions about connection in a digital age where loneliness rates are rising and AI interactions become more sophisticated. This shift represents a fundamental tension between technological companionship and authentic human connection. The big picture: Despite Joi AI's survey results suggesting widespread Gen Z openness to AI romance, independent polling and expert opinion indicate a more nuanced reality...
read May 21, 2025AI friends face FTC and co. skepticism as Meta pursues social network domination
Zuckerberg's internal contradiction at the FTC trial reveals Meta's strategic pivot in social media. In testimony aimed at deflecting monopoly concerns, the CEO claimed personal sharing on social platforms is declining in importance while simultaneously developing AI tools to mine and leverage exactly this type of intimate content. This paradoxical position highlights Meta's struggle to redefine its business amid regulatory scrutiny, technological shifts, and changing user behaviors. The big picture: Mark Zuckerberg testified at the FTC's monopoly trial that Meta no longer views dominating personal social networking as strategically important, contradicting the company's recent product decisions. During testimony, Zuckerberg claimed...
read May 11, 2025AI data centers worsen water scarcity in stressed regions
Artificial intelligence-driven data centers are rapidly expanding in already water-scarce regions, sparking environmental concerns. These facilities are essential for AI operations but consume enormous amounts of water for cooling, exacerbating local shortages and provoking protests globally. As AI continues to grow, the competition for limited water resources intensifies, challenging tech companies to balance innovation with sustainability. **The big picture:** The rise in AI data centers has led to a 70% increase in facilities in water-stressed areas since 2022. - About two-thirds of new data centers are being built in regions with high water stress, with five U.S. states accounting for...
read May 7, 2025AI companions raise questions about emotional dependency
AI companions are transforming mental health landscape with over half a billion global users engaging with digital friends and confidants through apps like Xiaoice and Replika. As these AI relationships become increasingly sophisticated, researchers are racing to understand their psychological effects—revealing potential benefits for isolated individuals alongside concerns about dependency, privacy, and emotional manipulation. This digital relationship revolution raises profound questions about human connection in an age when the line between real and artificial companionship continues to blur. The big picture: AI companions have evolved into sophisticated emotional partners that millions rely on daily, creating unprecedented human-AI relationships that researchers...
read May 7, 2025Zuckerberg’s chatbots offer the wrong cure for disconnection
The debate about AI's role in addressing loneliness reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of human connection. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's claim that AI chatbots could fill friendship voids contradicts research on meaningful relationships and ignores evidence about how technology impacts social well-being. Understanding this disconnect is crucial as tech companies increasingly position AI as a solution for social isolation, despite evidence suggesting the opposite approach—less screen time and more face-to-face interaction—might be more effective. The big picture: Mark Zuckerberg's assertion that the average American has fewer than three friends while promoting AI chatbots misrepresents the actual research data on friendship. During...
read May 5, 2025RealtimeVoiceChat enables natural AI conversations on GitHub
Real-time voice chat technology is advancing rapidly, enabling natural-sounding AI conversations with minimal latency. This open-source project demonstrates how sophisticated speech recognition, large language models, and text-to-speech systems can be integrated to create fluid, interruptible voice interactions that mimic human conversation patterns, showcasing the potential for more intuitive human-AI interfaces. Key features of this real-time AI voice chat system 1. End-to-end voice conversation architectureThe system creates a complete voice interaction loop by capturing user speech through the browser, processing it server-side, and returning AI-generated speech. This architecture prioritizes low latency and natural conversational flow above all else. 2. Real-time processing...
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