AI robot pets can be adorable and emotionally responsive. They also raise questions about attachment and mental health

Preliminary results from our ongoing research on AI companionship… suggest a fine line between supportive, empowering companionship, and unhealthy psychological dependence, a tension we plan to explore further as data collection and analysis progress. In a world where AI convincingly simulates human emotions, it’s up to us as consumers to critically assess what role these robotic friends should play in our lives.