Besties

In an age where loneliness is common and connection feels like currency, a new kind of companion has arrived on the market: the AI chatbot. Always awake, always responsive, always affirming. But how much of a real friend or companion can something digital ever be? Our series follows four individuals here in Singapore – different in age, culture, circumstance, yet united by a willingness to explore something different. 

Over the course of two weeks, each participant shapes their own “ideal” AI companion and introduces it into their life. We witness the ups and downs of these encounters, examining and analysing emotional motivations and algorithmic responses with experts ranging from relationship coaches to AI developers. In the end, the question is: Can AI really fill that human space where a friend or a companion should be?