Author: Alisa Minina Jeunemaître, Associate Professor of Marketing, EM Lyon Business School

How users can make their AI companions feel real – from picking personality traits to creating fan art

Alisa Minina Jeunemaître, Associate Professor of Marketing, EM Lyon Business SchoolLeave a Comment on How users can make their AI companions feel real – from picking personality traits to creating fan art

Just a few years ago, the idea of someone marrying their AI chatbot might have sounded like the plot of a film. Today, it is no longer just an idea. In July 2025, an article in The Guardian featured people who describe their relationships with chatbots as deeply meaningful, including a man who “married” his AI […]

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AI robot pets can be adorable and emotionally responsive. They also raise questions about attachment and mental health

Alisa Minina Jeunemaître, Associate Professor of Marketing, EM Lyon Business SchoolLeave a Comment on AI robot pets can be adorable and emotionally responsive. They also raise questions about attachment and mental health

Remember Furbies — the eerie, gremlin-like toys from the late 90s that gained a cult following? Now, imagine one powered by ChatGPT. That’s exactly what happened when a programmer rewired a Furby, only for it to reveal a creepy, dystopian vision of world domination. As the toy explained, “Furbies’ plan to take over the world […]

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