Inside the Growing Market for Digital Companionship

ABOUT THE EPISODE Stefano Puntoni explains how chatbots are increasingly becoming emotional companions. His research shows that even short conversations with a bot can reduce loneliness, especially for people who feel the most isolated. He also notes that real user transcripts reveal many individuals turning to AI companions while facing serious mental-health struggles, which raises concerns about safety and responsibility. As demand grows, startups embrace the companionship market while major AI companies stay cautious, partly because of rising lawsuits claiming harms ranging from unlicensed psychotherapy to wrongful death.

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