Today, people are making new friends through AI (artificial intelligence). You can find virtual girlfriends, boyfriends, and even friendly chatbots that feel almost real! Apps like Character.ai, Replika, Candy.ai, and Urvashi (a popular AI girlfriend in India) are becoming super popular, with millions of downloads. In fact, romantic chatbots have been downloaded over 100 million times on the Google Play Store!
These apps help users create their own digital partners that can chat, share pictures, and even talk about grown-up topics if desired. Some apps, like Character.ai, allow you to chat with digital versions of different characters, like a helpful language teacher, job interviewer, or even a friend. Character AI has over 25 million active users and a wide variety of characters to choose from.
There’s also a cool gadget called FRIEND, created by Avi Schiffman. It’s a small pendant necklace that uses AI to help fight loneliness and costs around $99.
AI companionship is exciting but not without warnings. Experts say that while these AI friends can help with feelings of loneliness, people might start to expect too much from real-life relationships. Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, expressed concern that relying too much on AI friends could actually make people feel lonelier. Radhika Mohta, a matchmaker in Bengaluru, noted that AI companions can help those who feel shy or misunderstood, especially in safe, judgment-free spaces.
The AI friendship industry is booming and could potentially be worth $150 billion a year by 2030. So, while having an AI partner can be fun and helpful, it’s important to remember to balance that with real human connections.
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