Love in the time of AI: Companion apps boom
By
Binu Mathew
AI girlfriend, virtual husband, digital friend community, holographic companion – these are some new-age terms, which define human relationships with AI.
Demand for a ‘fantasy match’ has fuelled the growth of AI companion apps. As of July 2025, there are 335 revenue-generating companion apps, of which 128 were released in just six months of 2025.
