"AI Chatbots: The Future of Emotional Support Companionship"

Pi, an emotional support chatbot developed by Inflection AI, aims to provide users with a kind and supportive companion that is not human. The chatbot uses the language of cognitive behavioral therapy and is designed to tell users to seek professional help if they express wanting to harm themselves or others. However, scholars and critics warn that A.I. companionship can create problems if the bots offer bad advice or enable harmful behavior, and express concerns about privacy given the potentially sensitive nature of the conversations.