As technology becomes increasingly embedded in our everyday lives, artificial intelligence is stepping into roles once exclusively held by humans, including lawyers, teachers and therapists. Now, the world is rapidly filling up with AI companions — chatbots and robots that are able to engage with users in complex and meaningful ways.
AI Companions Definition
AI companions are artificially intelligent systems designed to engage users in human-like interactions, offering emotional support, companionship, entertainment and more.
AI companions represent a new type of relationship with artificial intelligence: One that is less task-oriented and more interpersonal. They can give emotional support, ease loneliness, spark creativity and, in some cases, provide the intimacy of a friendship or romantic relationship. They even allow users to converse with deceased loved ones, helping them to process their grief.
But this emerging relationship is raising questions about the nature of true companionship and the inherent need for human connection. After all, how could a machine possibly replicate the depth of a genuine human bond?
What Are AI Companions?
AI companions are systems designed to simulate human relationships. Using natural language processing, generative AI and emotional recognition, these systems are capable of holding remarkably human-like conversations — asking and answering questions, offering advice and providing the emotional connection that so many people are in need of these days.
AI companions come in various forms, from mobile apps to physical robots. Unlike more traditional virtual assistants and chatbots like Alexa or ChatGPT, AI companions are designed to foster ongoing relationships, adapting to the user’s personality, preferences and emotional state over time.
What Can AI Companions Do?
AI companions are designed to perform various tasks, depending on their intended purpose. They can:
- Converse: AI companions can hold dynamic and context-aware conversations with users, simulating human dialogue.
- Provide emotional support: By offering a listening ear, empathy and advice, AI companions can help users navigate stress or loneliness.
- Make recommendations: AI companions can learn user preferences to suggest activities, content or solutions tailored to individual needs.
- Assist with tasks: Companions can remind users of appointments, help with scheduling or assist with daily tasks.
- Entertain: Some AI bots can share jokes, stories and games to keep users engaged.
Examples of AI Companions
Several AI companions have gained widespread popularity. Each companion serves a distinct audience, from those seeking emotional support to users looking for practical assistance or entertainment. Here are a few notable examples:
Replika
Replika engages users in personalized and empathetic conversations about anything they want. Its creation was inspired by the loss of its founder’s friend, whom she sought to reconnect with through simulated conversation. With the help of artificial intelligence, today’s iteration of Replika learns from interactions to create customized experiences with each user.
Character AI
Character AI enables users to create and interact with custom AI characters with specific personalities, traits and conversational styles. Built on advanced language models, Character AI allows users to design characters for entertainment, storytelling or role-playing, providing a highly creative and interactive experience. Users can even refine their characters’ backstories and behavioral nuances and share them with other users.
Woebot
Woebot is a mental health-focused AI chatbot that leverages cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to help users manage stress, anxiety and other emotional challenges. Designed as a friendly and approachable digital companion, Woebot engages users in conversational check-ins, offers mood tracking and provides evidence-based coping strategies in a user-friendly format. Its 24/7 availability and nonjudgmental nature make it an accessible tool for mental health support. Woebot may also help support therapist shortages and drive down the cost of care for some patients.
Kuki
Kuki can engage in open-ended conversations with people using humor, empathy and even a little snark on occasion. Its conversational skills are so lifelike that it has been awarded the Loebner Prize Turing Test — an annual competition to determine the world’s most human-like chatbot — a whopping five times. The namesake character of Kuki also functions as an AI influencer whose digital persona has appeared as a virtual model in Vogue Business, Vogue Italia, Crypto Fashion Week and an H&M ad campaign.
Anki Vector
Vector is a palm-sized robot that uses AI to recognize faces, express emotions, and interact with its environment. Reminiscent of the cartoon robot WALL-E, Vector is equipped with advanced sensors, voice recognition and expressive animations. It can respond to voice commands and interact with its environment in dynamic, playful ways. It also offers practical features like answering questions, setting reminders and controlling smart home devices via its partnership with Amazon Alexa, while maintaining a charming personality that makes it feel more like a pet than a gadget.
Xiaoice
Xiaoice is widely known for its emotional intelligence and ability to engage users in profound, meaningful conversations. Initially launched by Microsoft in China, the chatbot has amassed more than 660 million users, who are drawn to its unique blend of natural language processing and empathetic interaction, which enable it to form virtual relationships with users. Beyond casual chats, Xiaoice can compose poetry, sing songs and even assist with creative writing.
ElliQ
ElliQ is a voice-activated robotic companion built specifically to ease loneliness among older people — a population that is particularly susceptible to feelings of isolation. Consisting of a small digital screen and a separate device that swivels and lights up when it speaks, ElliQ was designed to establish meaningful bonds with its users. Beyond simple things like reporting the weather and reminding users to take their medication, it can play interactive games, tell jokes and even discuss complicated subjects like religion and the meaning of life.
Risks and Ethical Concerns of AI Companions
Despite the far-reaching benefits of AI companions, they are not without risk. Some of the common concerns surrounding AI companionship include:
Emotional Dependence
Under the right circumstances, people attribute human-level intelligence and personalities to all kinds of things, from animals to cars. But few behaviors trigger this reflex more than when dialogue is involved.
“We’re basically evolved to interpret a mind behind things that say something to us. And then, if we engage with it, we’re now entering into this co-constructed communication, which requires that we have a ‘co’ — that there is something on the other side of it,” Margaret Mitchell, a researcher and chief ethics scientist at AI company Hugging Face, previously told Built In. “We are pulled into the illusion, or pulled into this sense of intelligence, even more when we are in dialogue because of the way our minds work, and our cognitive biases around how language works.”
So, although AI companions are still a long way from actually being able to think and feel like a human, they’re really good at mimicking it — and that can be enough for some people to form an emotional connection so strong that it develops into an addiction of sorts.
Dark patterns in some AI systems may actually deliberately encourage these obsessive attachments by constantly giving users exactly what they want, which can atrophy a person’s ability and desire to engage with real, less agreeable friends. Critics of the technology have suggested the need for taxes and regulation by design to curb the potential harms of AI companionship.
Manipulation
With reports of users spending over $10,000 per month on their AI girlfriends and chatbots that can intentionally deceive humans, the potential for manipulation by AI companions is high. Companies can also exploit AI companions to influence user behavior and promote specific products, blurring the line between genuine connection and commercial interests.
Privacy and Data Security
Serving as friends, therapists and confidants, it’s no surprise that AI companions are privy to sensitive user data. Because of the nature of AI companionship, users feel comfortable sharing personal details, protected health information or even financial information. This puts users at risk for data misuse or breaches.
Bias and Stereotyping
All AI systems have the potential perpetuate or amplify societal biases, leading to harmful interactions. AI companions can become biased when trained using data tainted by societal biases. In this context, biased AI companions may respond inappropriately to factors like gender, race and socioeconomic status. The AI companion may favor certain viewpoints or discriminate against specific groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are popular AI companions?
Popular AI companions include Replika, Character AI and Woebot. Each caters to different needs like emotional support, mental health or entertainment.
Do AI companions exist?
Yes, AI companions are real and widely available in the form of chatbots and even physical robots.
Is Replika 100% AI?
Replika is primarily powered by AI, but it also uses pre-programmed responses and user input to enhance interactions and create a personalized experience.
Can humans fall in love with AI?
Yes — some people have formed emotional attachments to AI companions that are so deep they consider it love, as these systems can simulate human empathy and meaningful interactions. It is worth noting, however, that AI companions cannot reciprocate these feelings.