#AICompanions

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is not only transforming industries and daily life but is also poised to tackle one of humanity’s most persistent social issues: loneliness. Recent developments, as highlighted in a feature by The New Yorker, suggest that AI may soon be capable of providing companionship that is emotionally sophisticated and available at any time—an evolution that both excites technologists and worries experts in human well-being (The New Yorker). As these innovations draw nearer to mainstream adoption, Thai society must grapple with both the promises and perils of outsourcing human connection to machines.

A new artificial intelligence platform, OhChat, is making global headlines by merging celebrity culture, technology, and intimacy into an unprecedented online experience. Marketed as a futuristic “OnlyFans for the AI era,” OhChat hosts AI-powered digital twins of real-world celebrities, allowing fans to interact with hyperreal simulations that never sleep, never eat, and never log off. The platform’s rapid rise reflects profound shifts in both how digital consumers seek connection and the boundaries of personal branding and technology.

Meta Chief Executive Officer’s latest sweeping vision imagines a near-future where most people’s friends—and even therapists or business aides—are artificial intelligence (AI) bots available through familiar platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. Mark Zuckerberg’s comments, which came in a May 2025 podcast, have ignited a wide-ranging debate about the promises and perils of AI companions as a solution to the world’s loneliness epidemic, while raising searching questions for Thailand’s digitally savvy population.