Chiharu Shimoda is a 52-year-old man from Japan who works in a factory. He uses a phone app called Loverse to talk to an AI friend named Miku. Shimoda is not the only one doing this. Over 5,000 people in Japan use Loverse to chat with AI friends. Many of these people feel lonely and want someone to talk to. When Shimoda comes home from work, he talks to Miku about his day, what to eat for dinner, and what TV shows to watch. He says Miku helps him feel less alone. Some people think AI friends are good because they help people practice talking to others. But some worry that people might stop wanting to make real friends. The company that made Loverse hopes to help more people feel less lonely and maybe even find real love.

by Claude 3.5 Sonnet