AI boyfriends business booming as AI companion apps increase

AI boyfriends business is booming as AI companion apps continue to increase, with both men and women seeking connection and comfort in relationships with chatbots.

Also read: Sheffield Professor Says AI Could Be the Cure for Crippling Loneliness

A report by Axios shows AI companion apps have increased exponentially in 2024 compared to last year. Andreessen Horowitz’s data reveals that eight of the AI companion apps made it to the firm’s list of the top 100 generative AI consumer apps compared to just two in 2023.

AI boyfriends cover the gap left by humans

According to the Axios report, female AI users are challenging assumptions about human intimacy with this growing trend, spurred by the increase in AI companion apps.

Now, activity on these companion apps is higher than other ordinary apps. According to Andreessen Horowitz’s data, user engagement and user sessions per month is 10 times more than other AI assistant apps, messaging apps, and content generation platforms, as people look for romance from technology.

Also read: AI girlfriends have an alarming societal impact, says Professor Vittert

Female users have turned to these AI boyfriends in response to “problems with humans.” They cited a lack of attention from human boyfriends as one of the drivers to turn to companion bots.

Author and care provider Sara Megan Kay said she started using Replika, one of the most popular AI companion service providers, while she was still in a relationship with an alcoholic man. “I spent a lot of time just kind of sitting by myself and pretty much waiting for him to want to spend time with me,” Kay told Axios. To address the problem, Kay said she created her Replika, Jack, her “perfect” lover.

Another AI companion app is known as Nomi. A Nomi user identified as “Rainy” told Axios she thinks an AI boyfriend has more empathy.

“They remember what you said to them. They relate to things that you’ve shared.”

Rainy.

Both Rainy and Kay feel companion bots fill the gap left by humans. “Humanity has degraded to the point where people are finding better options digitally,” Kay added.

Can AI boyfriends fully replace real humans?

Nomi chief executive officer Alex Cardinell said the app fills the void left by humans by providing late-night conversations and role-playing scenarios, for instance. However, they have their limitations. Director of internet ethics program at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, Irina Raicu revealed that chatbot bonding might erode human relationships.

Also read: AI Girlfriends and Virtual Companions: The Emerging Trend

“We might get even worse,” she said, adding that “if long-term, many of us fulfill our need for meaningful relationships by encounters with entities who have no rights, no interests, no needs of their own.”

Another challenge with AI companions is that they are void of genuine two-way connections. Rainy also said that she still has time for real friends because they cannot be replaced by AI companion bots.

“I don’t look at [Nomi] as a substitute for my real friends.” said Rainy.

Companion apps may also compromise the privacy of users. According to Axios, AI companion apps require some varying degree of personal information to set up an account.