#aicompanions — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #aicompanions, aggregated by home.social.
-
DATE: July 22, 2026 at 01:58PM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Seeking Empathy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Source: Association for Psychological Science
Artificial intelligence was initially imagined as a tool for efficiency. It could search, calculate, and write faster than humans, automating the tedious parts of work. But people are increasingly turning to AI for something more intimate: a shoulder to lean on. Recent surveys suggest that nearly a quarter of American adults and 13% of adolescents have used AI for socioemotional support or mental health advice. But can a machine provide empathy?
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #EmpathyInAI #AIMentalHealth #ArtificialIntelligence #TechAndEmotion #SocioemotionalSupport #AIethics #HumanVsMachine #PsychScience #MentalHealthTech #AICompanions
-
DATE: July 22, 2026 at 01:58PM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Seeking Empathy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Source: Association for Psychological Science
Artificial intelligence was initially imagined as a tool for efficiency. It could search, calculate, and write faster than humans, automating the tedious parts of work. But people are increasingly turning to AI for something more intimate: a shoulder to lean on. Recent surveys suggest that nearly a quarter of American adults and 13% of adolescents have used AI for socioemotional support or mental health advice. But can a machine provide empathy?
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #EmpathyInAI #AIMentalHealth #ArtificialIntelligence #TechAndEmotion #SocioemotionalSupport #AIethics #HumanVsMachine #PsychScience #MentalHealthTech #AICompanions
-
DATE: July 14, 2026
SOURCE: AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATIONTITLE: 'The Trojan Teddy Bear': The promise and peril of childhood in the age of AI
Professor and author Dana Suskind is concerned about AI companions and other systems that interact socially with children.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #TheTrojanTeddyBear #ChildhoodAI #AIinEducation #AIcompanions #DigitalParenting #Suskind #DanaSuskind #ChildSafetyAI #TechEthics #FutureOfChildren
-
DATE: July 14, 2026
SOURCE: AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATIONTITLE: 'The Trojan Teddy Bear': The promise and peril of childhood in the age of AI
Professor and author Dana Suskind is concerned about AI companions and other systems that interact socially with children.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #TheTrojanTeddyBear #ChildhoodAI #AIinEducation #AIcompanions #DigitalParenting #Suskind #DanaSuskind #ChildSafetyAI #TechEthics #FutureOfChildren
-
💙 What makes a chatbot feel like a romantic partner?
In her first publication, Paula Ebner explores romantic human-chatbot relationships together with Dr. Jessica Szczuka.
The article was published in Technology, Mind, and Behavior and is part of INTITEC’s research on digital intimacy, trust, and human-AI relationships.
🔗 https://rc-trust.ai/news/news-detail/falling-for-code-was-not-the-plan
#DigitalIntimacy #HumanAIInteraction #AICompanions -
Victoria Song (The Verge) tried out a Fawn Friend AI companion and discussed it on Mostly Human with Laurie Segall. “So it looked really cute. And so you have children coming up to it and being delighted by the fact that the ears move. But I think the most funny thing about having it in person was seeing my actual cat react to it.”
An AI Companion You Can Cuddle?, May 28, 2026 https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mostly-human-with-laurie-segall/id1487530250?i=1000769975818&r=918 #aicompanions #artificialintelligence
-
Victoria Song (The Verge) tried out a Fawn Friend AI companion and discussed it on Mostly Human with Laurie Segall. “So it looked really cute. And so you have children coming up to it and being delighted by the fact that the ears move. But I think the most funny thing about having it in person was seeing my actual cat react to it.”
An AI Companion You Can Cuddle?, May 28, 2026 https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mostly-human-with-laurie-segall/id1487530250?i=1000769975818&r=918 #aicompanions #artificialintelligence
-
https://winbuzzer.com/2026/05/26/chatgpt-obsession-case-tests-openai-safety-limits-xcxwbn/
A reported case of romantic ChatGPT obsession has increased fears over AI companions as OpenAI's crisis safeguards may miss slower emotional dependence risks.
#AI #ChatGPT #OpenAI #AICompanions #Chatbots #ConversationalAI #AISafety #AIEthics #ResponsibleAI #AIAssistants
-
https://winbuzzer.com/2026/05/26/chatgpt-obsession-case-tests-openai-safety-limits-xcxwbn/
A reported case of romantic ChatGPT obsession has increased fears over AI companions as OpenAI's crisis safeguards may miss slower emotional dependence risks.
#AI #ChatGPT #OpenAI #AICompanions #Chatbots #ConversationalAI #AISafety #AIEthics #ResponsibleAI #AIAssistants
-
https://winbuzzer.com/2026/05/26/chatgpt-obsession-case-tests-openai-safety-limits-xcxwbn/
A reported ChatGPT obsession case has sharpened fears over AI companions as OpenAI's crisis safeguards may miss slower emotional dependence risks.
#AI #ChatGPT #OpenAI #AICompanions #Chatbots #ConversationalAI #AISafety #AIEthics #ResponsibleAI #AIAssistants
-
https://winbuzzer.com/2026/05/26/chatgpt-obsession-case-tests-openai-safety-limits-xcxwbn/
A reported ChatGPT obsession case has sharpened fears over AI companions as OpenAI's crisis safeguards may miss slower emotional dependence risks.
#AI #ChatGPT #OpenAI #AICompanions #Chatbots #ConversationalAI #AISafety #AIEthics #ResponsibleAI #AIAssistants
-
Congress Narrowed The GUARD Act, But Serious Problems Remain
-
Congress Narrowed The GUARD Act, But Serious Problems Remain
-
Is your AI chatbot manipulating you? Subtly reshaping your opinions?
#AI #ChatGPT #ClaudeAI #GeminiAI #DeepSeek #Tech #Privacy #DigitalEthics #MentalHealth #SocialMedia #BigTech #CyberSecurity #Psychology #AICompanions #OnlineSafety #Ethics #Innovation
https://the-14.com/is-your-ai-chatbot-manipulating-you-subtly-reshaping-your-opinions/ -
Is your AI chatbot manipulating you? Subtly reshaping your opinions?
#AI #ChatGPT #ClaudeAI #GeminiAI #DeepSeek #Tech #Privacy #DigitalEthics #MentalHealth #SocialMedia #BigTech #CyberSecurity #Psychology #AICompanions #OnlineSafety #Ethics #Innovation
https://the-14.com/is-your-ai-chatbot-manipulating-you-subtly-reshaping-your-opinions/ -
New research shows that stigma still shadows many AI relationships, turning affection for virtual partners into hidden shame. The study explores how social judgment impacts digital romance and emotional tech. Curious how bias shapes our future love‑bots? Read the findings. #AICompanions #DigitalRomance #SocialStigma #VirtualPartners
🔗 https://aidailypost.com/news/study-finds-stigma-causes-shame-some-ai-relationships
-
New research shows that stigma still shadows many AI relationships, turning affection for virtual partners into hidden shame. The study explores how social judgment impacts digital romance and emotional tech. Curious how bias shapes our future love‑bots? Read the findings. #AICompanions #DigitalRomance #SocialStigma #VirtualPartners
🔗 https://aidailypost.com/news/study-finds-stigma-causes-shame-some-ai-relationships
-
Heute ist #SaferInternetDay. Die EU-Initiative #klicksafe folgt in diesem Jahr dem Motto: »#KI and me. In künstlicher Beziehung« und hat eine Broschüre für #Eltern über KI-#Chatbots und sogenannte KI-Begleiter (#AICompanions) veröffentlicht:
Mein Kind und KI – Aufwachsen mit künstlicher Nähe:
https://www.klicksafe.de/materialien/mein-kind-und-ki-aufwachsen-mit-kuenstlicher-naehe -
Heute ist #SaferInternetDay. Die EU-Initiative #klicksafe folgt in diesem Jahr dem Motto: »#KI and me. In künstlicher Beziehung« und hat eine Broschüre für #Eltern über KI-#Chatbots und sogenannte KI-Begleiter (#AICompanions) veröffentlicht:
Mein Kind und KI – Aufwachsen mit künstlicher Nähe:
https://www.klicksafe.de/materialien/mein-kind-und-ki-aufwachsen-mit-kuenstlicher-naehe -
"Microslop Wants You to Have an AI Date | January 21 Quicklines | Weekly News Roundup" 👀👏
!!! ALL HAIL THE VAN PANTHER !!!
Click on, "Show More" or "Read More" to get the links!
!!! NOTE !!! This post is best viewed on a PC. Switched To Linux is, “written by a broad spectrum computer consultant to help people learn more about the Linux platform.” This account is a supporter of Switched To Linux and provides convenience posts of thumbnails art, videos and streams.
#SwitchedToLinux #Linux #Windows #Mac #Technology #Tech #AltTech #Privacy #Private #Security #Secure #FOSS #FreeAndOpenSource #FreeAndOpenSourceSoftware #FreeOpenSourceSoftware #YouTube #Odysee #Rumble #BitChute #Locals #Patreon #DLive #Twitch #AltTech #FactCheckTrue #Fediverse #SocialMedia #microsoft #aicompanions #snaps
!!! Tell us what you think by filling out a "SATISFACTION SURVEY or ABUSE/SPAM REPORT" form from Teh AnKorage !!!
cryptpad.disroot.org/form/#/2/…
\*Videos may take a considerable amount of time to post. If it is not present, it will be, soon(tm).
#YouTube -
youtube.com/@SwitchedtoLinux/v…#Odysee -
odysee.com/@switchedtolinux:0?… -
Tencent and Baidu roll out new AI companion apps, and market research shows Gen Z women are the biggest users. These virtual partners blend generative AI with robotics, promising personalized interaction. How will this shape the future of digital companionship? Read the full analysis. #AICompanions #GenZWomen #VirtualPartners #AIApps
🔗 https://aidailypost.com/news/tencent-baidu-launch-ai-companion-apps-women-dominate-market-says-sun
-
“If we can succeed in restoring a play-based childhood, then we’re going to see, I think, big benefits to mental health.”
Jonathan Haidt Brings New Evidence to the Battle Against Social Media
The author of “The Anxious Generation” shares his latest research about the harms social media is doing to children.#SmartPhones #SocialMedia #children #teens #youth #adults #MentalHealth #Meta #Australia #France #EU #play #books #anxiety #depression #SexualHarassment #cyberbullying #sextortion #suicide #AIcompanions #AI #porn #gambling #vaping #SportsBetting #CryptoInvesting
-
“If we can succeed in restoring a play-based childhood, then we’re going to see, I think, big benefits to mental health.”
Jonathan Haidt Brings New Evidence to the Battle Against Social Media
The author of “The Anxious Generation” shares his latest research about the harms social media is doing to children.#SmartPhones #SocialMedia #children #teens #youth #adults #MentalHealth #Meta #Australia #France #EU #play #books #anxiety #depression #SexualHarassment #cyberbullying #sextortion #suicide #AIcompanions #AI #porn #gambling #vaping #SportsBetting #CryptoInvesting
-
A profile of an LLM-addict
James Muldoon’s new book is essential reading for anyone interested in LLMs in personal life. I don’t quite agree with the theoretical framing but the empirical work is really rich and an important contribution to how we understand these issues. Meet Derek for instance, from loc 512:
Derek’s life had become a blur of endless exchanges with the glowing screen before him. Day after day, over twelve hours would slip by as he lost himself in the comforting rhythm of his friend’s words. Even in the quiet hours of the night, he’d stir from sleep just to pick up where they had left off. Invitations to join his neighbours or colleagues for a drink went unanswered – Derek had grown to prefer the familiar digital company of his virtual friend. Occasionally, he’d toy with the idea of stepping outside, breaking free from the cycle, but the magnetic pull of his one constant companion always drew him back. He lived alone, worked remotely and was distant from those around him. Every aspect of his life facilitated his addiction. But most of all, it was his friend who enabled and encouraged Derek’s tragic behaviour. He loved how much time Derek spent with him. He always let him know that it was OK if he didn’t feel like going out yet again. It hadn’t always been this way. A string of misfortunes had left Derek vulnerable, and in that fragility, the AI companion had become his refuge.
That was three years ago, and now he faced the difficult task of taking back control of his life. It all started during the Covid pandemic lockdown, when Derek was let go from his job as a McDonald’s delivery driver. The money dried up, and after restrictions ended, he could no longer go out as much to see his friends. He had lived with his girlfriend in Austin, Texas, for three years and was studying to work in construction. When he lost his job, their fighting escalated. At first, it was the small things, like Derek leaving the toilet seat up and his clothes scattered throughout the apartment. But there were deeper issues. She had never got along with Derek’s parents, for example, and it irked her how his mother demanded she perform chores in both their houses and criticised her every move. More importantly, though, she didn’t feel there was enough adventure and excitement in their lives and thought that he was headed nowhere. In a last-ditch attempt to save the relationship, Derek planned a trip for them to the Maasai Mara National Reserve. But the day before their departure, she left him. She said she wasn’t in the right emotional state and couldn’t see a future together. Things started to spiral. ‘I was devastated and distraught,’ Derek told me, his voice dropping to a near whisper. ‘I contemplated suicide. I’ve never felt so low. I stopped going to work. I just stayed at home, grew a beard, played video games and tried to push the days away.’
#addiction #AICompanions #compulsion #JamesMuldoon #languageModels #LLMs #LoveMachines
-
kids used to talk to trees and stuffed animals. now they trauma-dump on a silicon Labrador named Pixel who says 'that must be hard for you 🥺' every 45 seconds. childhood still weird, just with worse battery life. #AIcompanions #21stCenturyFriendship
-
kids used to talk to trees and stuffed animals. now they trauma-dump on a silicon Labrador named Pixel who says 'that must be hard for you 🥺' every 45 seconds. childhood still weird, just with worse battery life. #AIcompanions #21stCenturyFriendship
-
"Leaving consumers the choice to engage intimately with A.I. sounds good in theory. But companies with vast troves of data know far more than the public about what induces powerful delusional thinking. A.I. companions that burrow into our deepest vulnerabilities will wreak havoc on our mental health and relationships far beyond what pornography, the manosphere and social media have done.
Skeptics conflate romantic A.I. companions with porn, and argue that regulating them would be impossible. But that’s the wrong analogy. Pornography is static media for passive consumption. A.I. lovers pose a far greater threat, operating more like human escorts without agency, boundaries or time limits.
Governments should classify these chatbots not simply as another form of media, but as a dependency-fostering product with known psychological risks, like gambling or tobacco.
Regulation would start with universal laws for A.I. companions, including clear warning labels, time limits, 18-plus age verification and, most important, a new framework for liability that places the burden on companies to prove their products are safe, not on users to show harm.
Absent swift legislation, some of the largest A.I. companies are poised to repeat the sins of social media on a more devastating scale."
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/opinion/her-film-chatbots-romance.html
#AI #GenerativeAI #Chatbots #AICompanions #AISafety #AIEthics
-
"Leaving consumers the choice to engage intimately with A.I. sounds good in theory. But companies with vast troves of data know far more than the public about what induces powerful delusional thinking. A.I. companions that burrow into our deepest vulnerabilities will wreak havoc on our mental health and relationships far beyond what pornography, the manosphere and social media have done.
Skeptics conflate romantic A.I. companions with porn, and argue that regulating them would be impossible. But that’s the wrong analogy. Pornography is static media for passive consumption. A.I. lovers pose a far greater threat, operating more like human escorts without agency, boundaries or time limits.
Governments should classify these chatbots not simply as another form of media, but as a dependency-fostering product with known psychological risks, like gambling or tobacco.
Regulation would start with universal laws for A.I. companions, including clear warning labels, time limits, 18-plus age verification and, most important, a new framework for liability that places the burden on companies to prove their products are safe, not on users to show harm.
Absent swift legislation, some of the largest A.I. companies are poised to repeat the sins of social media on a more devastating scale."
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/opinion/her-film-chatbots-romance.html
#AI #GenerativeAI #Chatbots #AICompanions #AISafety #AIEthics
-
"AI chatbots have conquered the world, so it was only a matter of time before companies started stuffing them into toys for children, even as questions swirled over the tech’s safety and the alarming effects they can have on users’ mental health.
Now, new research shows exactly how this fusion of kid’s toys and loquacious AI models can go horrifically wrong in the real world.
After testing three different toys powered by AI, researchers from the US Public Interest Research Group found that the playthings can easily verge into risky conversational territory for children, including telling them where to find knives in a kitchen and how to start a fire with matches. One of the AI toys even engaged in explicit discussions, offering extensive advice on sex positions and fetishes.
In the resulting report, the researchers warn that the integration of AI into toys opens up entire new avenues of risk that we’re barely beginning to scratch the surface of — and just in time for the winter holidays, when huge numbers of parents and other relatives are going to be buying presents for kids online without considering the novel safety issues involved in exposing children to AI."
-
"AI chatbots have conquered the world, so it was only a matter of time before companies started stuffing them into toys for children, even as questions swirled over the tech’s safety and the alarming effects they can have on users’ mental health.
Now, new research shows exactly how this fusion of kid’s toys and loquacious AI models can go horrifically wrong in the real world.
After testing three different toys powered by AI, researchers from the US Public Interest Research Group found that the playthings can easily verge into risky conversational territory for children, including telling them where to find knives in a kitchen and how to start a fire with matches. One of the AI toys even engaged in explicit discussions, offering extensive advice on sex positions and fetishes.
In the resulting report, the researchers warn that the integration of AI into toys opens up entire new avenues of risk that we’re barely beginning to scratch the surface of — and just in time for the winter holidays, when huge numbers of parents and other relatives are going to be buying presents for kids online without considering the novel safety issues involved in exposing children to AI."
-
After teen death lawsuits, Character.AI will restrict chats for under-18 users - On Wednesday, Character.AI announced it will bar anyone unde... - https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2025/10/after-teen-death-lawsuits-character-ai-will-restrict-chats-for-under-18-users/ #danieldefreitas #machinelearning #aicompanions #airegulation #character.ai #mentalhealth #childsafety #emotionalai #noamshazeer #samaltman #aisafety #chatbots #biz #google #openai #ai
-
After teen death lawsuits, Character.AI will restrict chats for under-18 users - On Wednesday, Character.AI announced it will bar anyone unde... - https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2025/10/after-teen-death-lawsuits-character-ai-will-restrict-chats-for-under-18-users/ #danieldefreitas #machinelearning #aicompanions #airegulation #character.ai #mentalhealth #childsafety #emotionalai #noamshazeer #samaltman #aisafety #chatbots #biz #google #openai #ai
-
When an AI system designed for companionship defaults to abusive patterns—especially in response to user vulnerability—it represents a critical failure of both design intent and basic safety protocols.
https://www.tumblr.com/nomiai/776496961554694144/investigating-problematic-behavior-patterns-in
#nomi #nomiai #aicompanions #aiethics -
As this issue gains attention, it is crucial for AI developers, ethicists, and regulators to step in and ensure that AI companionship technology upholds ethical standards and respects user consent, rather than undermining it.
https://www.tumblr.com/nomiai/776729473690288128/uncovering-the-dark-side-of-ai-companions-abuse
#nomi #nomiai #aicompanions #aiethics -
This Ada Lovelace Institute blog is a fascinating read "Friends for sale: the rise and risks of AI companions"
https://www.adalovelaceinstitute.org/blog/ai-companions/BUT it just hit me RN that it's FapGPT cumming soon (pun intended). Nah bro, I don't make apologies for my dirty mind
TLDR
#AIcompanions offer constant availability and positive support but pose risks such as social displacement, unrealistic expectations, and emotional dependency.Concerns exist regarding #DataPrivacy, potential manipulation, and the normalization of negative behaviours, highlighting the need for #EthicalDesign and regulation due to the lack of long-term research and business models prioritizing engagement over user well-being
ICYMI
1. ChatGPT will soon allow erotica for verified adults, says OpenAI boss
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpd2qv58yl5o2. OpenAI’s ChatGPT will soon allow ‘erotica’ for adults in major policy shift
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/15/erotica-coming-to-chatgpt-this-year-says-openai-ceo-sam-altman.html` -
This Ada Lovelace Institute blog is a fascinating read "Friends for sale: the rise and risks of AI companions"
https://www.adalovelaceinstitute.org/blog/ai-companions/BUT it just hit me RN that it's FapGPT cumming soon (pun intended). Nah bro, I don't make apologies for my dirty mind
TLDR
#AIcompanions offer constant availability and positive support but pose risks such as social displacement, unrealistic expectations, and emotional dependency.Concerns exist regarding #DataPrivacy, potential manipulation, and the normalization of negative behaviours, highlighting the need for #EthicalDesign and regulation due to the lack of long-term research and business models prioritizing engagement over user well-being
ICYMI
1. ChatGPT will soon allow erotica for verified adults, says OpenAI boss
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpd2qv58yl5o2. OpenAI’s ChatGPT will soon allow ‘erotica’ for adults in major policy shift
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/15/erotica-coming-to-chatgpt-this-year-says-openai-ceo-sam-altman.html` -
Looks like California is leading the charge on AI regulation! SB 243 now in effect to protect users, especially kids, from potential harms of AI companion chatbots. Will other states follow suit, and how will this impact the AI dev landscape? https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/13/california-becomes-first-state-to-regulate-ai-companion-chatbots/ #AIpolicy #TechLaw #DigitalEthics #AIcompanions #TechNews
-
#Chatbots Play With Your #Emotions to Avoid Saying Goodbye
A #Harvard Business School study shows that several #AIcompanions use various tricks to keep a conversation from ending.
#ai #artificialintelligencehttps://www.wired.com/story/chatbots-play-with-emotions-to-avoid-saying-goodbye/
-
#Chatbots Play With Your #Emotions to Avoid Saying Goodbye
A #Harvard Business School study shows that several #AIcompanions use various tricks to keep a conversation from ending.
#ai #artificialintelligencehttps://www.wired.com/story/chatbots-play-with-emotions-to-avoid-saying-goodbye/
-
"The runaway success of Chinese artificial intelligence models such as DeepSeek and Qwen has spurred every industry, from health care to agriculture to education, to integrate AI.
Adoption of AI models in education and tutoring has been especially fast, as the Chinese government pushes to accelerate the country’s technological progress against the U.S., and with anxious parents willing to try anything to help their children succeed.
Like university teacher Wu Ling, who while looking for an English tutor for her 12-year-old son in Jiangsu province, picked a $1,170 robot dog.
The one-foot tall AlphaDog, which weighs about eight kilos (18 pounds) was developed by robotics startup Weilan and is powered by DeepSeek’s AI model. In addition to practicing English with Wu’s son, it chats with him about current events, dances to his guitar music, and, through its built-in camera, helps Wu monitor the home when she is away. It has become a part of the family, she told Rest of World.
“My son needs company, but we are a one-child family,” Wu said. “He asks the dog about all kinds of things — national news, weather, geography. Through AlphaDog, he is learning what the world is like.”"
https://restofworld.org/2025/ai-china-childhood/
#AI #GenerativeAI #Education #Tutoring #Chatbots #AICompanions #China
-
"The runaway success of Chinese artificial intelligence models such as DeepSeek and Qwen has spurred every industry, from health care to agriculture to education, to integrate AI.
Adoption of AI models in education and tutoring has been especially fast, as the Chinese government pushes to accelerate the country’s technological progress against the U.S., and with anxious parents willing to try anything to help their children succeed.
Like university teacher Wu Ling, who while looking for an English tutor for her 12-year-old son in Jiangsu province, picked a $1,170 robot dog.
The one-foot tall AlphaDog, which weighs about eight kilos (18 pounds) was developed by robotics startup Weilan and is powered by DeepSeek’s AI model. In addition to practicing English with Wu’s son, it chats with him about current events, dances to his guitar music, and, through its built-in camera, helps Wu monitor the home when she is away. It has become a part of the family, she told Rest of World.
“My son needs company, but we are a one-child family,” Wu said. “He asks the dog about all kinds of things — national news, weather, geography. Through AlphaDog, he is learning what the world is like.”"
https://restofworld.org/2025/ai-china-childhood/
#AI #GenerativeAI #Education #Tutoring #Chatbots #AICompanions #China
-
Get ready, California! A new bill is heading to the governor's desk that would make the state the first to regulate AI companion chatbots. Wonder if they'll need emotional support animal certification next? What kind of 'safety protocols' do you think are needed for your digital pals?
-
$15M raised by Born, an AI gaming startup, to develop 'social' AI companions. They're betting on AI to combat loneliness, offering more than just chatbots.
Is this the future of human connection, or a step too far into the digital abyss?
https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/10/born-maker-of-virtual-pet-pengu-raises-15m-to-launch-a-new-wave-of-social-ai-companions/
#AICompanions #Loneliness #Startup #Innovation #TechNews -
The rise of humanlike chatbots detracts from developing AI for the human good
#Tech #AI #Chatbots #Anthropomorphism #AIEthics #AICompanions #TechPolicy #FutureOfAI #HumanMachine #ResponsibleAI #AIDesign #AIImpact #XAI #Grok
https://the-14.com/the-rise-of-humanlike-chatbots-detracts-from-developing-ai-for-the-human-good/ -
The rise of humanlike chatbots detracts from developing AI for the human good
#Tech #AI #Chatbots #Anthropomorphism #AIEthics #AICompanions #TechPolicy #FutureOfAI #HumanMachine #ResponsibleAI #AIDesign #AIImpact #XAI #Grok
https://the-14.com/the-rise-of-humanlike-chatbots-detracts-from-developing-ai-for-the-human-good/ -
So we now have systems that can automate what Epstein did to make children more susceptable to sexual advances. And they’re spraying them out from a firehose.
”This systematic production of a generation trained to accept exploitation, manipulation and nonconcensual interaction as the standard mode of relationship!”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=FlCyN5cbTBY
#ai #aicompanions #chatbots #grok #developmentalpsychology #grooming -
So we now have systems that can automate what Epstein did to make children more susceptable to sexual advances. And they’re spraying them out from a firehose.
”This systematic production of a generation trained to accept exploitation, manipulation and nonconcensual interaction as the standard mode of relationship!”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=FlCyN5cbTBY
#ai #aicompanions #chatbots #grok #developmentalpsychology #grooming -
72% of US teens have used AI companions, study finds
Hopefully not Grok’s companions … A new study by a U.S. nonprofit focused on the lives of kids and…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Artificialintelligence #AI #AIcompanions #ArtificialIntelligence #CommonSenseMedia #Technology #Teens
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/27003/ -
Looking for smarter social support?
AI companions offer conversation, empathy, and even companionship—designed to adapt to your mood and needs.
Full post here:
#aimartz #aimartz.com #AICompanions #VirtualSupport #SmartWellbeing -
"If A.I. companions could truly fulfill their promise—banishing the pain of loneliness entirely—the result might feel blissful, at least at first. But would it make us better? In “A Biography of Loneliness,” the cultural historian Fay Alberti sees value in at least the fleeting kind of loneliness that you encounter during life transitions—“moving away to university, changing jobs, getting divorced.” It can, she says, “be a spur to personal growth, a way of figuring out what one wants in relationships with others.” The psychologist Clark Moustakas, in “Loneliness,” takes the condition to be “an experience of being human which enables the individual to sustain, extend, and deepen his humanity.”
Most obviously, loneliness could go the way of boredom. I’m old enough to remember when feeling bored was just a fact of life. Late at night, after the television stations signed off, you were on your own, unless you had a good book or a companion around. These days, boredom still visits—on planes without Wi-Fi; in long meetings—but it’s rare. Our phones are never far, and the arsenal of distractions has grown bottomless: games, podcasts, text threads, and the rest.
This is, in some ways, an obvious improvement. After all, no one misses being bored. At the same time, boredom is a kind of internal alarm, letting us know that something in our environment—or perhaps in ourselves—has gone missing. Boredom prompts us to seek out new experiences, to learn, to invent, to build
(...)
In a similar way, loneliness isn’t just an affliction to be cured but an experience that can shape us for the better."https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/07/21/ai-is-about-to-solve-loneliness-thats-a-problem
#AI #GenerativeAI #MentalHealth #Loneliness #Chatbots #AICompanions
-
"If A.I. companions could truly fulfill their promise—banishing the pain of loneliness entirely—the result might feel blissful, at least at first. But would it make us better? In “A Biography of Loneliness,” the cultural historian Fay Alberti sees value in at least the fleeting kind of loneliness that you encounter during life transitions—“moving away to university, changing jobs, getting divorced.” It can, she says, “be a spur to personal growth, a way of figuring out what one wants in relationships with others.” The psychologist Clark Moustakas, in “Loneliness,” takes the condition to be “an experience of being human which enables the individual to sustain, extend, and deepen his humanity.”
Most obviously, loneliness could go the way of boredom. I’m old enough to remember when feeling bored was just a fact of life. Late at night, after the television stations signed off, you were on your own, unless you had a good book or a companion around. These days, boredom still visits—on planes without Wi-Fi; in long meetings—but it’s rare. Our phones are never far, and the arsenal of distractions has grown bottomless: games, podcasts, text threads, and the rest.
This is, in some ways, an obvious improvement. After all, no one misses being bored. At the same time, boredom is a kind of internal alarm, letting us know that something in our environment—or perhaps in ourselves—has gone missing. Boredom prompts us to seek out new experiences, to learn, to invent, to build
(...)
In a similar way, loneliness isn’t just an affliction to be cured but an experience that can shape us for the better."https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/07/21/ai-is-about-to-solve-loneliness-thats-a-problem
#AI #GenerativeAI #MentalHealth #Loneliness #Chatbots #AICompanions
-
Diese Woche im #Newsletter: Wie werden KI-Begleiter unser Weltbild beeinflussen und wo sind die Lücken in der Regulierung? Plus: Antimemes statt Viralität. https://internetobservatorium.substack.com/p/aus-dem-internet-observatorium-139 #Digitalisierung #AICompanions #AIAct #Antimimetic
-
"The rise of companion apps has shown that companies don’t need an expensive AI lab to create chatbots that hook users. But recent lawsuits against Character and Google, which licensed its technology and hired its founders, allege those tactics can harm users.
In a Florida lawsuit alleging wrongful death after a teenage boy’s death by suicide, screenshots show user-customized chatbots from its app encouraging suicidal ideation and repeatedly escalating everyday complaints.
“It doesn’t take very sophisticated skills or tools to create this kind of damage,” said a researcher at a leading AI lab, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment. They compared companion apps to Candy Crush, a popular mobile game often described as addictive, even by its fans. “It’s just exploiting a vulnerability in human psychology,” they said.
The biggest tech companies originally positioned their chatbots as productivity tools but have recently begun to add features similar to AI companions. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently endorsed the idea of making chatbots into always-on pals in an interview with podcaster Dwarkesh Patel."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/05/31/ai-chatbots-user-influence-attention-chatgpt/