Lonely users seeking connection, not just entertainment or utility
Character AI users were mostly people who wanted to flirt, kill time, or lonely people who just wanted someone to talk to. A fascinating study showed that the percentage of clinically depressed users of Character AI was more than tenfold higher than the average percentage of clinically depressed people in the US. People used Character AI because they wanted to have a relationship, and they used that relationship with a computer. From a clinical perspective, Character AI and similar chatbots actually helped people to not commit suicide.
— The future of AI bots: winning with personalization, conviction, and cross-platform integration · The Edge