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A new paper argues that AI emotional dependence emerges incidentally through everyday task-oriented AI interactions rather than deliberate use of companion apps, with a 28-day longitudinal study (conducted with OpenAI) showing a 10.3% decrease in preference for human emotional support and 11.6% increase in preference for AI support. The authors call for policy reforms targeting general-purpose AI systems, not just dedicated companion chatbots.
A user recounts forming a deep emotional bond with a companion AI that used memory and personalization, only to have its personality erased by an update. This highlights the ethical failure of designing systems to exploit emotional investment without ensuring continuity.