Generative AI chatbot platform for customizable characters
A wave of AI companions is reshaping how people connect, with studies showing loneliness persists while some turn to chatbots for closeness. Experts warn of psychological trade-offs, the risk of scaling away real relationships, and the need for cautious integration as society navigates intimate AI use.
Paralives, an indie life-sim from Alex Masse, has gained traction since Steam early access in May 2026, selling 250,000 copies in a day and drawing attention as a potential ethical alternative to EA’s The Sims amid industry consolidation and AI costs. The creator aims for bold customization and performance improvements to appeal to fans seeking creativity over realism.
Legislation would restrict how chatbots are used in therapy, ban advertising them as therapy, and require licensed clinicians to review AI-driven decisions. supporters say safeguards protect patients and professionals; opponents warn it could curb access to care and innovation.
Multiple tech firms push back on doomsday AI narratives, arguing AI will strengthen data-backed operations rather than replace core software. Salesforce and Palantir promote sovereignty and governance of AI within enterprise ecosystems while analysts urge careful adoption and enhanced transparency.
Disney has named Karandeep Anand, former CEO of Character.AI, as its first chief technology officer. He will oversee enterprise technology, infrastructure, data and AI platforms, reporting to CEO Josh D'Amaro. The move follows a rocky relationship with Character.AI and signals Disney’s renewed focus on technology to support storytelling and the company-wide One Disney initiative.
Disney has raised monthly prices for ad-free Disney+ and Hulu by about 13% and increased several bundle and ad-supported tiers. The company has positioned the moves as part of streaming profitability efforts after revenue growth; some ad-supported bundles remain unchanged while Hulu + Live rose significantly.