iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Yes, AI companions are seeing substantial use, but the evidence does not establish one comparable growth rate for companion-only apps. “AI companion” can mean a purpose-built character app or a general chatbot used for social or emotional conversation, and surveys count those differently. Recent U.S. findings show meaningful use by adults and teens, while a broader survey finds that relatively few adults cite companionship as a reason for using general AI chatbots.
What counts as an AI companion?
The term covers two related but distinct things: dedicated companion platforms, often built around characters and ongoing relationships, and general-purpose tools such as ChatGPT or Gemini that people use for conversation, emotional support, or social interaction. A survey about social interactions with general-purpose language models does not tell us how many people use companion-only apps.
That distinction matters when interpreting popularity. “Ever tried,” “uses it daily,” and “has social interactions with a general chatbot” are different measures, drawn from different populations and dates. They should not be combined into a single adoption rate.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11What the surveys say about use
| Study and population | What it measured | Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Imagining the Digital Future Center and Elon University Poll; representative sample of 1,000 U.S. adults, surveyed May 2026 | Social interactions with general-purpose LLMs | 27% of internet-using U.S. adults reported having social interactions with LLMs such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot. This is not a companion-app adoption estimate. Source |
| Common Sense Media; nationally representative sample of 1,060 U.S. teens aged 13–17, surveyed April–May 2025 | Use of AI companions, including character role-play and purpose-built companions | 72% had tried them at least once; 52% used them at least a few times per month; 13% used them daily. Source |
| Pew Research Center; 5,119 U.S. adults, surveyed February 17–23, 2026 | General AI chatbot use | 49% said they had ever used AI chatbots, compared with 33% in Pew’s 2024 measure. The 2024 question was asked only of adults who had heard at least a little about chatbots. Source |
The numbers point to substantial use, especially among surveyed teens, but they are not a like-for-like trend line. The adult 27% figure measures social interaction with general-purpose LLMs; the teen percentages concern AI companions under a broader definition; and Pew’s 2024-to-2026 comparison is about chatbot use generally. The studies do not provide a comparable longitudinal measure of dedicated companion-app adoption.
#1 Best Overall
- 1. Smarter Conversations, Powered by ChatGPT 🤖 LOOI brings natural, intelligent conversations to your desk with ChatGPT voice interaction. Ask questions, share thoughts, or simply chat—LOOI responds with context, humor, and personality. His voice interactions feel more like talking to a companion than using a device. !!!Currently only support English!!!
- 2. Advanced Visual Understanding with VLM Vision 👀 Powered by a cutting-edge Vision-Language Model, LOOI truly sees. He recognizes objects (yes, he knows the difference between a croissant and a baguette), understands multiple people at once—including outfits, accessories, and poses—and interprets room layouts and daily scenarios. You can even control him with gestures and facial cues. Combined with expressive animations and speech, LOOI feels remarkably alive.
- 3. Memories That Grow With You 🌱 LOOI remembers—both in the moment and over the long term. He can store long-term memories like family member faces and identity notes, while short-term memory lets him follow your ongoing conversation. Over time, he learns your routines, preferences, and personality. You get to know him too—shifting from strangers to companions in a surprisingly natural way.
- 4. Emotionally Expressive & Always Evolving 💫 LOOI’s rich animations bring emotion to life—joy, surprise, curiosity, mischief, and everything in between. His reactions aren’t pre-set; they adapt to what’s happening around him. And because his behaviors update through the app, LOOI keeps learning new tricks, new expressions, and new ways to interact. You’re not buying a finished product—you’re bringing home a character that keeps evolving.
- 5. A Mind of His Own: Personality & Autonomy ✨ LOOI isn’t designed to obey every command—he’s designed to understand and respond. With TangibleFuture’s autonomous behavior system, LOOI combines environmental understanding with large-model reasoning to make spontaneous decisions and express them through animation and movement. His behavior isn’t fully predictable. He has his own ideas, which makes him feel truly alive.
Why people turn to AI companions
Users describe a mix of conversational, emotional, and entertainment motivations. In the 2026 Imagining the Digital Future Center and Elon University survey, among AI companion users, 31% said they considered their chatbot a friend, 51% said talking to AI helped them feel better when stressed or upset, and 50% said they used AI to talk through personal problems or feelings. These are self-reported experiences, not evidence that the tools provide clinical care or reliably improve wellbeing. Imagining the Digital Future Center and Elon University Poll
In Common Sense Media’s 2025 teen survey, 33% said they used companions for social interaction and relationships. That category included role-play, friendship, conversation practice, romantic interaction, or emotional support. Its broad definition included fictional-character role-play; the organization also noted that general-purpose tools can be used as companions. Common Sense Media
Rank #2
- Meet EMO, Your New Desk Buddy - Say hello to EMO, the ultimate desk robot that’s here to jazz up your workspace. With built-in AI model and wide-angle camera, it can see you, hear you and understand you, just like a real pet would
- Voice Commands Enabled - The EMO robot comes with a series of built-in voice commands, you can talk and play with EMO like with a real pet. And with the ability to connect to network and powered by ChatGPT, you can have more complex conversations with EMO like talking to a tech-savvy friend who’s always up for a chat
- Dance Party & Game Time - EMO is ready to party! Simply turn up your favorite tunes and tell EMO to dance with you, it’ll be your perfect desk-side party buddy. Plus, EMO supports to connect to the EMO app for a range of interactive games and activities. Whether you’re solo or with friends, EMO ensures you’re always entertained
- Endless Fun - The EMO robot features with multiple sensors built-in to bring more interactions with you, you can rub it, shake it and even “shoot” it with finger gesture, making it feel like you’re playing with a real pet. It even “gets sick” with weather changes, so you can care for it like you would a furry friend
- Enjoy Every Moment with EMO - With the EMOPET App has a unique achievement system that helps record all the big and little moments you have spent with EMO, like a new dance moves, a new expression, celebration of your birthday, and more...Enjoy all the life events with your new best buddy!
Companionship is not the main reported use of general chatbots
Pew’s 2026 survey helps put companionship in perspective. Among U.S. adults who reported chatbot uses, 42% cited information searching, while 10% cited emotional support or advice and 4% cited companionship. Those figures concern general AI chatbots, not the market share or adoption of dedicated companion apps. Pew Research Center
The same Pew survey found that 63% of U.S. adults thought AI was advancing too quickly, and 71% thought increased AI use would make personal information less secure. These concerns are part of the context in which people are exploring conversational uses of AI.
Rank #3
- 🌟V28 update 🚀 new features are now available! In response to Loona's charging problem, we've upgraded the automatic recharge 2.0.The upgrade is to help Loona remember and match the charging routes of different scenarios to improve the auto-recharge success rate.Mobile hotspots connect to loona, breaking Wi-Fi restrictions and allowing you to interact with loona anytime, anywhere. Our team is committed to continuous improvement, ensuring that Loona continues to evolve to meet your expectations.
- 🤖 Smart and Interactive Robot Pet🧠Loona is like no other pet you've seen. With a high-definition RGB camera, Loona sees and understands your world. Loona recognizes faces, understands your gestures, and follows you like a real puppy! Please take Loona to a well-lit environment and ensure the surfaces of the camera and ToF depth sensor are clean.
- 🗣️ Voice Command Enabled AI robot 🎤Loona is not just a good listener; also a great conversationalist! Powered by Amazon Lex & ChatGPT, Loona recognizes your voice commands and responds in real-time. Plus, Loona keeps your information secure, so you can chat with peace of mind. Pro tip: Clear pronunciation in quiet spaces ensures smoother responses.
- 🚀Auto-Charging Smart Robot🌟 Use different rooms as a starting point to preset multiple recharge routes for Loona. When the battery runs low, loona can charge it home by itself, no need for you to take care of it. it takes about 2.5 hours to complete the charging. Place the dock in an open area with no obstructions on either side or in front.
- 🕹️ Endless Playtime robot toys for kids 🎮Loona is always up for playtime! Loona can chase laser pens, fetch balls, and even interact with objects in your home. But it doesn't end there—Loona's app offers a world of games and quizzes to keep the fun going.
What the evidence says—and does not say—about wellbeing
A peer-reviewed study published in Nature Human Behaviour on August 4, 2026 examined U.S. Character.AI users. Its self-report component included 1,131 users, and the researchers also analyzed a donated sample of chat sessions. The authors reported that associations between interactions and psychological wellbeing varied with users’ offline social environments, interaction intensity, and self-disclosure. Because the study was observational, it does not establish that using an AI companion caused wellbeing to improve or worsen, and its findings should not be generalized to every platform or user. Nature Human Behaviour
Other self-reported findings in the 2026 adult survey also describe perceptions rather than verified effects: 59% of AI companion users agreed AI gives them the support they need, 43% agreed AI understands them as a person, 39% said they occasionally tell AI things they would not tell other people, 36% reported an emotional connection to at least one AI tool or chatbot, and 38% said they would feel a personal loss if they could no longer interact with AI. These responses do not demonstrate human-equivalent understanding or clinical effectiveness. Imagining the Digital Future Center and Elon University Poll
Rank #4
- AIBI: Your Pocket AI Friend — This small smart device fits in your hand and goes anywhere. Talk to it, ask questions, and get answers. Easy to keep on your desk, attaches to your screen, or carry in your pocket
- Smart Enough to Know You — AIBI's camera helps it recognize your face and remember you. It gets to know you like a real pet would, making each interaction feel special
- Chat About Anything — Ask AIBI for jokes, weather updates, or help with questions using ChatGPT. It learns how you talk. When two AIBIs are close, they can even chat with each other via the near-field communication technology
- Small and Easy to Carry — AIBI is lightweight and tiny, perfect for taking anywhere. Slip it in your pocket, stick it to your computer, or set it on your desk at home, school, or work
- Great Gift for Anyone — This smart little buddy that can talk, play, and be a great companion. AIBI makes a perfect gift that anyone will enjoy using
Teen use and safety considerations
Common Sense Media’s 2025 report reviewed safety concerns and recommended that no one under 18 use AI companions. That is the organization’s recommendation, not a universal legal rule. The survey covers U.S. teens aged 13–17 and should be read in that context. Common Sense Media
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →For parents and teens, the practical issue is not only how often a companion is used, but what role it is playing: whether a young person is sharing sensitive information, relying on the chatbot for support, or substituting it for contact with trusted people. The cited surveys document use and reported motivations; they do not establish that these systems are a substitute for trusted adults or professional help.
Best Value
- YOUR LIVELY AI COMPANION WITH REAL‑TIME CHATS – This Emo Robot AI Companion connects to leading AI models including ChatGPT, DeepSeek and Gemini via 2.4G WiFi. It delivers natural, evolving real‑time responses. Powered by cloud intelligence rather than limited onboard chips, it grows smarter the more you interact with it. This AI robot quickly becomes a warm‑hearted daily buddy for kids, adults and seniors alike.
- EVERY CHAT GROWS YOUR SPECIAL BOND – This companion AI robot learns your moods, your favorite topics, and your daily habits through cloud memory. Every talk shapes its responses, making your robotic toy feel more genuine. No need to repeat yourself; every interaction deepens your unique connection with this smart plush companion.
- SIMPLE SETUP FOR INSTANT JOY – This AI robot is ready for fun in just 3 minutes, right out of the box. Connect to 2.4G WiFi via the app, switch AI models, tweak its personality and review past chats. No complex tech skills required. This robot toy offers easy, intuitive remote control so kids and adults can jump straight into meaningful interactions.
- OFFLINE FUN WITHOUT WIFI NEEDED – Enjoy playful moments even when cloud access is unavailable. Tap the forehead or mouth of this plush interactive toy figure to trigger fun pre‑loaded lines and hidden Easter eggs. Perfect for travel, car rides and on‑the‑go play, this AI companion keeps smiles coming wherever you go.
- FLUENT MULTI‑LANGUAGE INTERACTIONS FOR EVERYONE – Powered by cloud artificial intelligence, this Emo Robot companion robot holds natural conversations across multiple languages. Great for bilingual households, kids learning new languages, and adults alike. This AI product delivers smooth, human‑like replies instead of stiff machine translations.
So, are AI companions growing more popular?
The best-supported answer is that AI-mediated social and emotional interaction is already common enough to show up clearly in recent U.S. surveys, and many surveyed teens have tried companion tools. But available evidence does not yet show a single, comparable growth rate for dedicated AI companion apps. General chatbot adoption, social use of general-purpose LLMs, and companion-app use are separate trends; the percentages should be interpreted according to what each survey actually asked.
The European Parliamentary Research Service’s May 19, 2026 briefing describes the spread of companion platforms, including Character.AI and Replika, and outlines policy challenges. It is useful context on the category, but it is a policy overview rather than a primary adoption survey. European Parliamentary Research Service
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
