#ai-companions3 articles

3 articles

AINeutralarXiv – CS AI · 5d ago6/103

🧠

Digital Companionship: Overlapping Uses of AI Companions and AI Assistants

Research analyzing 202 ChatGPT and Replika users reveals emerging patterns of digital companionship, where users engage with AI systems for both task-based assistance and emotional support. The study finds users appreciate both humanlike qualities (emotional resonance) and non-humanlike features (constant availability), but struggle with the psychological tensions of forming attachments to entities they don't consider truly human.

AINeutralIEEE Spectrum – AI · Feb 116/104

🧠

How Can AI Companions Be Helpful, not Harmful?

AI companions are becoming increasingly popular due to advances in large language models, but research from UT Austin highlights potential harms including reduced well-being, disconnection from the physical world, and commitment burden on users. While AI companions may offer benefits like addressing loneliness and building social skills, researchers emphasize the need to establish harm pathways early to guide better design and prevent negative outcomes.

AINeutralIEEE Spectrum – AI · Feb 116/107

🧠

How Do You Define an AI Companion?

AI companions are becoming increasingly popular as millions of users develop relationships with chatbots for emotional support rather than just utility. Researcher Jaime Banks defines AI companionship as sustained, positive relationships between humans and machines that are valued for their own sake, though this definition is evolving as people find both emotional and practical value in these interactions.