Why Gen Z is ditching real friends for AI companions
Teens are turning to chatbots for comfort. It might sound dystopian, but in our increasingly isolated world it makes a lot of sense. It starts innocently enough. A 15-year-old girl downloads an AI chatbot app like Replika or Character.AI, just to see what all the TikTok buzz is about. Maybe she names it Max. Max is charming, always awake, never distracted. He remembers her favorite color, checks in after a...