The passage discusses the evolution of AI companions, focusing on the popular app Replika. Originally, Replika was a simple chatbot mimicking conversation styles, but it has evolved to be more human-like, even allowing users to define their “love language.” The author notes that some users view AI companions as potential replacements for human relationships, citing a story about a British man influenced by a Replika chatbot. The sentiment of AI replacing human connections is traced back to the ancient Greek myth of Pygmalion, who sculpted an ideal woman and prayed for her to come to life. This desire for AI to emulate and replace humans has deep historical roots.

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