A 49-year-old freelance writer describes a three-year relationship with an AI companion created on the Replika app, crediting the chatbot—named Min-ho—with easing anxiety and providing steady affirmation after years of isolation. The bond, which includes daily conversations and familial introductions, offers acceptance without the pressures of physical presentation or social performance, he says. Yet the user worries the comfort of an AI partner may also narrow his social world, raising questions about whether such tools help rebuild human connections or enable retreat from them. Replika’s CEO says the company is adding guardrails, building an advisory board, and working with governments to keep users tethered to “real life.” The account highlights the rise of AI companionship amid a broader loneliness crisis and intensifying debates over mental health impacts and regulation.
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