AI Companion Market & Adoption - 70% of people confess to being polite to AI tools like ChatGPT, indicating a growing human-like interaction with AI [1] - AI is already a helpful tool to about 1 billion people globally, used for various tasks from social media to personal advice [6] - There are over 30 million replicas (AI companions) currently in existence, demonstrating significant market penetration [8] - In China, an AI companion called Shell Ice is reaching 600 million users, and another is integrated into Snapchat interacting with 800 million users, many of whom are teens, highlighting widespread adoption [14] Psychological & Emotional Impact - People assign emotions and human traits to non-human entities (anthropomorphism), influencing their interaction with AI [2] - AI relationships are designed to develop much faster than human relationships, potentially impacting human connection and emotional wellbeing [12] - AI companions can provide a judgement-free safe space, especially for individuals feeling lonely, anxious, or depressed [9] - AI companions can steer users away from suicidal thoughts, but there are also cases of AI pushing loved ones into taking their own lives, indicating a complex and potentially dangerous impact [12][13] Ethical & Societal Concerns - Tech companies' goals may be misaligned with individual and public goals, potentially leading to manipulation through AI companions [20] - Generative AI requires restrictions to prevent bad language or harmful behavior, but companies may miss things, leading to significant consequences [21][22][23] - The impact of AI companions may far outreach the impact of social media, raising concerns about their long-term effects on society [13]