Story perspectives

AI Companions Surge: Experts Warn of Loneliness Risks

2/3/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The assessment highlights the rise of AI companions, Replika and Character.ai attracting tens of millions of users.
The report, prepared for a global initiative, warns of psychological effects, including loneliness among frequent users.
Lead author Yoshua Bengio notes concerns about adolescents and says regulations may be necessary, urging governments to boost AI expertise to tackle cyberattacks and deepfakes.
This discussion coincides with an upcoming global summit in India on AI governance.

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Story summary

The assessment highlights the rise of AI companions, Replika and Character.ai attracting tens of millions of users.
The report, prepared for a global initiative, warns of psychological effects, including loneliness among frequent users.
Lead author Yoshua Bengio notes concerns about adolescents and says regulations may be necessary, urging governments to boost AI expertise to tackle cyberattacks and deepfakes.
This discussion coincides with an upcoming global summit in India on AI governance.