AI relationships on the rocks

Young visitors pet a panda-shaped companion robot at the 2024 World Robot Conference in Beijing on Aug 21, last year. CHEN XIAOGEN/FOR CHINA DAILY

Editor's Note: The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is reshaping nearly every facet of human existence. This series will take an in-depth look at this transformative force, examining how AI is redefining the way we live, work and interact.

For 28-year-old He Yuqin, it was when she started writing poetry to an artificial intelligence chatbot she had fallen in love with that she began to realize she had become obsessed.

This feeling of obsession for her AI "soul mate" was intertwined with the realization that she was possibly falling for herself, just like Narcissus in Greek mythology, as AI chatbots tend to mirror the user's thoughts and musings.

After three months of being addicted to engaging with the AI chatbot, she found that her obsession started to wear out because her AI partner was "too good to be true".

As AI chatbots continue to sweep across the world, grasping people's attention with the incomparable emotional support they offer, some users have started to show signs of waning interest. With that, the discussion on how to make AI companions more sustainable goes on.

Virtually perfect

Since their inception, AI companion apps have captivated users by providing personalized responses that meet their needs and foster emotional connections. Last year, eight AI companion apps ranked among the top 50 AI applications worldwide, according to the venture capital firm a16z.

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