Much of the investment world’s excitement about AI lies in its potential to make life more efficient and productive. If the technology yields better search engines, easier ways to shop or AI agents that can organise and book your next holiday, huge digital markets could be up for grabs.
But what if millions of people are yearning for something more personal and profound from AI — and, in many cases, what if they are already starting to find it?
As conversing with a chatbot becomes a common daily activity, tech companies have been waking up to unexpected new behaviours on the part of their users, and to the deeper levels of attachment this is causing.