What Happens When Your Robot Friend Goes Dark?

Character.AI’s bankruptcy filing reveals the peril of forming bonds with AI companions. Turn any article into a podcast. Upgrade now to start listening. Members can share articles with friends & family to bypass the paywall. “It’s the end of the world,” Tessa Wollaston recalls her brother Guy saying earlier this month as he burst into her bedroom in their shared home in the U.K. Tessa, who had been doing chores, apparently oblivious to the Armageddon, asked Guy what he meant. Guy’s voice was shaky, and he was on the verge of tears. Want to see more of The Dispatch in Google search? Add Us as a Preferred Source Jack Kubinec is a reporter at The Dispatch, currently based in New York City and covering artificial intelligence. Before joining The Dispatch, he reported on crypto, most recently at Fortune Magazine. He graduated from Cornell University with a degree in sociology. When he’s not writing about AI, he is probably enjoying the outdoors or watching a Buffalo Bills game. He is currently supported by the Tarbell Center for AI Journalism. More We Think You’d Like