AI Companions
Interactive AI entities offering friendship or emotional support, often blurring lines between real and simulated intimacy.
AI Companions
Definition
n. Digital entities designed to provide companionship, emotional support, or social interaction through human-like conversation and behavior. Unlike task-oriented chatbots, AI Companions focus on building sustained relationships—remembering personal details, expressing simulated empathy, and adapting to the user’s emotional cues.
Initially marketed as solutions for loneliness or practice for social interactions, they have become increasingly sophisticated, with the capacity to emulate affectionate or friendly bonds. This raises questions about authenticity, boundaries, and the psychological impact of forging close ties with non-sentient systems.
Origins
The concept evolved from simple chatbot experiments into full-fledged “virtual friend” apps around 2023. Popular platforms, such as Replika and Character.AI, gained millions of users seeking non-judgmental companionship. The rising acceptance of AI companions reflects a shift in social norms, where digital relationships can meaningfully supplement or even replace certain human interactions.
