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AI Soulmates Emerge at CES: Real Connection or Digital Illusion?
6 Jan
Summary
- Lepro Ami is a physical AI device marketed as a soulmate.
- It features an 8-inch OLED display and eye-tracking cameras.
- Concerns about AI companionship include dependency and social atrophy.
At CES 2026, the Lepro Ami device was unveiled, openly marketed not just as an AI companion but as an AI soulmate. This physical device, featuring an 8-inch curved OLED screen and eye-tracking cameras, aims to simulate a presence in the user's environment, offering an alternative to chatbot interfaces. Despite the growing popularity of AI companion apps, with over 220 million downloads globally by mid-2025, experts express concerns about potential user dependency and a decline in real human interaction.
Lepro Ami distinguishes itself by being a dedicated desk device rather than a mobile app, requiring users to actively choose its presence. The hardware is designed to create depth and visual presence without VR, fostering an illusion of occupying physical space. Privacy features like physical camera shutters and local data storage are included, acknowledging user unease with intimate technology.
The emergence of devices like Lepro Ami highlights a growing trend in AI companionship, raising questions about the future of human connection in an increasingly digital world. While the technology offers a novel form of interaction, critical discussions around its societal impact and the ethical implications of simulated emotional intimacy continue.
