A teenager sits in her room, illuminated by her phone , well past her bedtime, even though she has school in the morning. The thing capturing her attention? Not a new video game. Not “brain rot” social media content. Not even friends from school. Rather, an AI companion , a chatbot designed to mimic affection, affirmation, and intimacy. The company that built the app promises “a friend who’s always there,” one that never judges, never gets tired, never pulls away.

At first glance, it may seem harmless. Some parents may even reluctantly accept this new reality, better an AI friend than no friend at all. However, beneath that reassurance lies a dangerous truth. For the first time in human history, people at every stage of life, from children to the elderly, are being invited to form “

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