I can agree with your concerns when it comes to AI companions. I personally do not use any of these AI companions for two reasons. One, they do watch you and some of them can do this when turned off and even unplugged.

The second reason is more important. Why can we humans not reach out and make new friends and spend time with existing friends and family? Why do we need AI companions when we can do these tasks for ourselves?

I'm not against all forms of AI. I love using the AI tools we have here and AI Chat Bots for doing quick research, but having AI involved with anything personal seems to me like we humans are too lazy to do things we have always done.

If the human brain cannot be used for solving simple tasks we have always done since the beginning of time, neurological problems will happen. The brain is like a muscle, if you don't use it like exercise, it will become weak and shrink.

One of the reasons my mother died with Alzheimer's is because she got into the rut of just sitting in front of the TV all day instead of reading and walking around outside like she always did. She just got lazy and her memory faded.

We can use AI to help us do complex things quicker, like we do here with the AI-tools. However, we should take a moment of pause and ask, should I really be creating an artificial life form to do things I used to do myself?

Hi, Anisha.

I agree with some of what you said. But I don't have experience with the kind of AI you are talking about. My experience is with ChatGPT, GrokAI, Perplexity AI and Windows Copilot.

They do seem too nice at times. It has been a long bumpy road, but I finally have Chatty where she will point out snags in my comments/questions/suggestions and point me in the right direction.

JD

Hi Anisha.
A few months ago, I had never interacted or knew anything about AI. But I was about to find out. I had ordered some shoes that did not work out, and I wanted to return them . They had to be returned in unworn condition and in a short period of time. I contacted the company through chat as I am moderately deaf. So I got an assistant named Jennifer, and I proceeded to tell her my problem. She assured me it would be taken care of. Well, it wasn't! So I contacted her again, went through the same rig-a-ma-roll, and she assured me that she would contact management, etc . A few more days, nothing! So I contacted her again, went through everything again with me threatening to contact the Attorney General, and she kept agreeing with me about every complaint I brought up?? So I was getting suspicious. So I clicked on her picture, and it was a Real Human picture! At this time, they switched me to another "assistant." So I had spent almost 2 weeks with Jennifer and now Melissa took another week+ . I was running out of time to return the items. Almost the same responses. Being suspicious, I asked Melissa if she and Jennifer were AI? You guessed it! They both were. I was so angry, even though I can't hear well, I called the company direct. And got a REAL PERSON! She confirmed they use AI to answer all problems, but AI has no authority to make decisions OR contact management! Lesson learned! Now I know the game! I will never use chat anywhere EVER again! I think companies will lose business if this is how they respond.

Good post, Anisha. No, I never tried any of these companions except in ChatGPT, Content Creator Platform at the WA, and a few other AI tools such as the Image Studio and Logo Designer, but not a companion app. You have raised very important question creators must think about when creating/designing those smart apps.

I would like to create/customize one to help me write real articles and schedule/publish them for me, and/or check how my posts are doing on Google and other search engines, and tell me what I need to improve. I know this is possible in the future.