Fantasy companions

Some bots are built into apps. Others live inside roleplay-heavy games like Love and Deepspace, where storylines and character arcs blur into something more intimate.

Pakistani newspaper Dawn said this is especially true in South Asia, where seeking professional help for mental health issues is often out of reach due to personal stigma. Enter ChatGPT — a make-do version of a therapy bot, offering a judgment-free ear to the discontented.

And if the user wants to get creative, he can build his own companion on platforms like ChatGPT or Character AI. Give them a name, a backstory, even a favorite movie, and they will remember it with "human-like memory".

"These are designed for people to live out their fantasy," said Aurora (not her real name), 33, an avid gamer who once created a romantic partner in Love and Deepspace.

She stopped playing when the game asked for money. But for many, the investment isn't just financial.