AI Companions: What to Consider

An AI companion is software designed for ongoing conversation. Depending on the product, it may use text, a voice, an avatar, or a physical device. Some people approach these tools as entertainment; others are looking for company.

You do not need to feel embarrassed about wanting a conversation. The useful question is whether a particular service fits your life, with limits you understand.

Separate conversation from care

A companion’s affectionate or reassuring words do not establish that someone is monitoring your wellbeing. Do not assume it can recognize a crisis, contact your family, detect a fall, or summon help. Check any advertised safety function separately in the manufacturer’s documentation.

A reminder is also different from knowing that a task was completed. A device saying “time for your appointment” does not mean transport has been arranged or a caregiver has been notified.

If you are seeking mental health care, see how chatbots differ from professional support. The NIMH guide to psychotherapy explains how licensed professionals provide treatment matched to individual needs.

Decide what you would like to use it for

Choose a small purpose you can assess: discussing a fictional story, trying word games, or rehearsing how to introduce yourself at a club. “Make me never feel lonely” is not a promise a seller can reliably make for you.

For a fictional example, someone returning to a book group might practice a short introduction and two questions about the book. A useful outcome would be feeling ready to attend the group. The chatbot’s praise alone would not tell them how a real conversation will go.

Ask yourself after a trial: Was this enjoyable? Did it help with the purpose I chose? Would I rather spend this time doing something else? You can decide that the service is unnecessary.

Make room for contact beyond the app

Consider pairing a practice conversation with a real action you choose: sending a friend a message, calling a relative, or checking the schedule of a local activity. Our guide to making social plans with AI offers a starting point.

Watch your own pattern of use. If you are repeatedly missing sleep, canceling plans, spending more than intended, or feeling distressed about ending a session, pause and discuss what is happening with someone you trust. This is a practical reason to reassess the tool, not a diagnosis based on screen time.

You do not owe software an ongoing conversation. A message asking you to stay is not a human obligation.

Inspect privacy and recurring costs

Before entering personal stories, check what the service keeps, what it shares, whether people can review chats, and what account deletion covers. Avoid sharing passwords, financial details, or private information about other people.

Review microphone, photo, contact, and location permissions. The FTC’s advice on app privacy explains why unnecessary permissions deserve attention.

For a paid service, record the full recurring price, any message or voice limits, cancellation steps, and what happens when a trial ends. For a device, also check internet requirements, returns, ongoing service fees, and what remains usable if its online service stops.

If you are choosing for someone else

Involve that person in the decision. Explain plainly when they are interacting with software and show them how to stop, mute, or turn it off. Try the actual text size, volume, controls, and cancellation process together.

A purchase should not silently replace visits, agreed check-ins, or needed professional care. Discuss who will help if the product stops working. Avoid making assumptions about someone’s preferences simply because they are older.

For urgent emotional support in the United States, call or text 988. For immediate life-threatening danger, call 911. An AI companion is not an emergency service.

Reviewed October 2, 2026. Featured photograph: Centre for Ageing Better / Unsplash; for illustration.

AI disclosure: This article was drafted and revised using AI. Read our full disclaimer.