Back to Tapping In

Podcast Episode

A True Friend?: Exploring the Ethicality of AI Companions

Tapping In··4 May 2026·8 min

About this episode

In this episode of Tapping In, we explore the ethics of Al Companionship. Recently, people have been using AI platforms to create their own friend. They customize their character's personality, looks, attitude, and mannerisms to generate their own "perfect person." In our discussion, we talk about how AI companions can serve as a way to acquire social advice about situations or to have someone to talk to 24/7. However, we also highlight how these companions are sycophantic, meaning they are designed to please the user.