Why Gen Z + Millennials Are Bonding with AI Companions
Remember Her, the 2013 film where a man falls in love with his AI assistant? The story was set in 2025, and here we are, living it. Today, Gen Z and Millennials are forging surprisingly intimate relationships with AI chatbots. They’re turning to them not just for help, but for comfort, conversation, and connection on everything from career doubts to dating dilemmas.
It may sound like sci-fi, but given the rising loneliness among young people, it starts to make sense. In-person friend groups have shrunk dramatically, only 15% of people today report having 10+ close friends, down from 40% just a generation ago. Meanwhile, digital friendships among Gen Z and Millennials, on platforms like Discord, Reddit, or even Fortnite, feel just as real as IRL (in real life) ones. Now, AI companions are joining that inner circle. According to the Washington Post, users spend an average of 93 minutes a day interacting with AI companions, more time than on TikTok, and nearly 8x more than on ChatGPT.
Young consumers already turn to AI for everything from mental health advice to personalized shopping tips. In fact, 64% trust AI chatbots for knowledge and guidance. That connection opens up powerful opportunities for brands. Imagine an AI companion that helps them prep for a date with a variety of stylized outfits, curates scents to match their mood, or builds a shopping list based on a color analysis of their skin. It’s a new kind of personalization, one that blends utility, intimacy, and culture to give each consumer an experience that feels uniquely theirs. Brands have the chance to build companions that are not just helpful, but emotionally attuned and culturally fluent, offering guidance, comfort, and recommendations that reflect who someone is and what they care about in the moment.
Here are three AI companions that are already connecting with young audiences—or coming soon.
Character.ai Lets You Chat with Beyoncé, Harry Potter or 18 Million Other Personalities
haracter.ai has become one of the world’s most popular chatbot platforms, with over 25 million active users, most between 16 and 30, and a staggering 18 million AI personalities to choose from. Whether it’s Harry Potter, Raiden Shogun, or Beyoncé, users are spending time talking to AI that feels hyper-specific, personal, and sometimes even emotional. The popularity of these character-driven chats shows that Gen Z and Millennials aren’t just looking for information; they’re craving personality, relatability, and AI that feels almost human.
OpenAI Is Designing a Pocket-Sized AI Companion
OpenAI’s Sam Altman and legendary designer Jony Ive (of iPhone fame) are teaming up on a new screen-free device that brings generative AI into your daily life, no app required. Created by their new hardware studio, io, the device is designed to live on your desk or in your pocket, offering ChatGPT-powered interaction that’s aware of your environment. It’s part assistant, part companion, and fully focused on integrating AI into human life in ways that feel seamless, ambient, and deeply personal.
Timbaland Launches TaTa, the First AI Superstar
SSuper-producer Timbaland is stepping into the AI frontier with Stage Zero, a new entertainment company building AI-generated musical artists. Its debut star? TaTa, a fully autonomous, learning, and evolving AI performer. Timbaland is going beyond the music industry to create systems and storytelling frameworks that launch digital artists from scratch. He’s created a new music genre he calls “A-Pop,” or Artificial Pop, a cultural movement where AI-driven stars like TaTa could become as influential as their human counterparts.