Key Takeaways People are beginning to trust AI companions more than their friends because machines offer consistency, memory, and nonjudgmental attention. Trust has shifted from loyalty to availability. AI companions…

It begins innocently enough.You’re testing a new AI chat  a curious evening scroll. The avatar has big eyes, soft colors, and a tone that’s somewhere between comforting and coy. You…

It started with curiosity.A chat window. A blinking cursor.A voice in your head saying, “It’s just software - what’s the harm?” But somewhere between “hi” and “goodnight,” the line blurred.…

A year ago, people were losing sleep over Character AI. Not in the haha, I stayed up scrolling TikTok again kind of way — I mean straight-up, locked-in addiction. Users…