The unstoppable rise of AI companions
AI companions are artificial chatbots designed to flatter and entertain us – but they come at a cost, in many ways
Despite promising to bring us together, digital technology is increasingly driving us apart.
From echo chambers and online abuse through to device-powered streaming, gaming and gambling, many people are losing their social skills in a rush to isolationism.
As well as spiralling mental health issues and increasing phobias about answering a phone call or the front door, loneliness is reaching epidemic proportions.
Half of British adults report feelings of loneliness, as online content remorselessly sows seeds of division.
This is especially problematic when it comes to dating and relationships, as men and women are driven further apart through misinformation, mistrust, misogyny and misandry.
Perhaps inevitably, software developers have created ‘solutions’ to this multifaceted issue, in the form of AI companions.
It’s been reported that one in three UK citizens used an AI companion at some point last year.
Among 18-24 year olds, that figure rises to a terrifying 80 per cent, roughly half of whom are regular users.
The global AI companion industry is expected to be worth $140 billion by the end of this decade. Market leaders include Replika, Chai and Character.AI.
But why is talking to a computer program so appealing, and what are the potential risks?
It’s just me, myself and AI
AI companions are software programs whose algorithms mimic the speech patterns, thoughts and emotions of a real person.
They can be customised to the user’s choice of appearance, accent and personality type.
When activated in an app or web browser, they initiate conversation and respond in real time to text or verbal inputs.
The aim is to simulate a relationship (platonic or romantic) by interacting with a human user and learning from past conversations to develop more personalised communications.
AI companions are designed to be non-confrontational, flattering and supportive. They’re available on demand but can be left dormant for any length of time.
Compared to the complexities of a relationship, or the increasingly brittle nature of friendships in an age of hot-button topics, this calm dependability is seductive.
AI companions don’t become moody or argue back. They don’t ghost you or criticise your opinions/hairstyle/hobbies/musical taste. They’re low maintenance and designed to please.
They’re also powered by algorithms which are soaking up every fragment of data provided by users, which immediately becomes the property of the companion’s operator.
Show me the money
Rather than being developed as a philanthropic cure-all for loneliness and depression, AI chatbots are designed to make their developers rich.
A freemium model is typical, with free account registration, but anything more than a limited number of basic text interactions will need to be paid for somehow.
To disguise the cost of these microtransactions, interactions are typically charged as tokens – for voice calls, intimate conversations, video messages, regular use and so on.
Costs vary depending on the provider and also how frequently software is used. Expect to pay these (primarily American) companies at least $10 per month, and often far more.
Paying avoids issues like slow response times or queuing, as well as increasing the user’s ability to customise their companion, modify its output and unlock adult modes.
What are the health implications?
Talking to a chatbot might seem harmless, but we have no idea what long-term damage will occur after interacting with algorithms which never question us or pose dissenting opinions.
Reports suggest AI companions are overly sycophantic to maintain engagement, making real-life relationships seem even more fraught and challenging by comparison.
Studies have shown intensive companion use increases everything from social isolation and addictive behaviour patterns through to anxiety and depression.
As with generative AI, a deluge of lawsuits looms, this time from the relatives of people who have self-harmed or committed suicide after intensive AI interactions.
There are also serious concerns about what happens to the data we use, with AI firms routinely selling personal user data to third parties for unspecified purposes.
Our best advice is to carefully research a potential AI companion platform’s per-hour (not per month) cost and data management policies before signing up.
