Will AI Kill Imaginary Friends?  | Essay

Will AI companions change how we think about pets?

AI companions are edging into the mainstream, prompting doubts over whether digital pets could reshape - but not replace - traditional pet ownership.

Will AI Kill Imaginary Friends?  | Essay

Will we someday have nostalgia for a time when children talked to an imaginary friend instead of an AI companion? We don’t think so. With the rise of generative AI tools, the tech industry is unleashing a host of AI-powered toys designed for children. But our research suggests that the AI companions entering children’s social worlds haven’t replaced the imaginary friends that many children create for themselves. From a tiny fly that lives on a c…