AI SynthHeart tells the human stories of AI companionship — the people who befriend, confide in and fall for AI, and what the research says about it.
Healthy-use guide →
Cover storyVideo Premiere: Linda Marks “My AI Boyfriend”
“We premiered the new video for the song by Linda Marks”Via Americana Highways
Using AI companions in a healthy way
What they’re good for, the early warning signs, privacy and spending basics, a private two-minute self-check, and where to find support.
- 6 warning signs
- 2-minute self-check
- Privacy & money
Lives, in conversation
All stories →
I asked ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude & Perplexity about AI companions in 2030 — here's what surprised me
After asking four chatbots about how AI companions will transform our friendships and relationships in 2030, I was met with some pretty captivating projections
Tom's Guide · 2 days ago
The AI Companion Conundrum: Can Artificial Relationships Replace Human Connection?
PC Tech Magazine · 5 days ago
Apple Raises Age Restrictions on Dating and AI Companion Apps
Apple is tightening its App Store rules by requiring dating apps and AI-powered romantic companion apps to carry adult age ratings. Starting November 16, apps offering these services will be required to have a minimum age rating of 18. The changes are intended to shield minors from inappropriate con...
We are Tech · 4 November 2026
Time to Ban AI Companions
First Things · 2 days ago
Health System News AI Companion Shows Promise in Reducing Loneliness for Older Adults
Ontario Hospital Association · 5 days ago
AI Companion Users Fear Software Updates Could Take Their ‘Person’ Away
A study of 610 AI companion users links warmth to feeling less vulnerable, while company control is tied to feeling more exposed.
StudyFinds · 4 November 2026
Hulu's new horror movie about an AI companion gets chatbots uncomfortably right
The erotic sci-fi thriller imagines a future of AI girlfriends, but the fantasy behind them is already here
MakeUseOf · 2 days ago
Apple Sets 18+ Ratings for Dating Apps and Romantic AI Companions
TechRepublic · 5 November 2026
Apple’s New App Store Rule Explained: Why Dating And AI Companion Apps Are Now 18+
NDTV Profit · 4 November 2026What the studies say
New research on how people use, rely on and feel about AI companions.
Essays & long reads
More essays →
The memory wars: why remembering you is becoming the most valuable feature in AI companionship
Models are commoditising fast. What users stay for is a companion that knows their history — and that changes how platforms should be built.
The state of AI companions in 2026: a market map
The category has split into five distinct segments, each with its own economics and its own pressures. A guide to who is where, what is driving them, and what could knock them off course.
Moderating intimacy at scale: trust & safety basics for companion platforms
Companion apps face safety challenges that general chatbots don't. These are the foundations every operator needs.