In that list that SGT. Rick posted...they mentioned how many more people are using AI Avatars...as friends, and companions. Now Gamers, have been doing this for decades. My old neighbors had a 21 year old son, and his five closest friends on Earth...he had never met. They meet up and play games, and do all the things we do in Real Life...online. And someday I shall post a story about what happened when he invited those five down to his house for a week at the beach...so they could all meet as actual people. Hint: It did not go well.
So the fact that us old people are now starting to do the same thing in a slightly different way, we are essentially skipping the "has to be at least another human being on the other side of the conversation." We don't use Avatars of an already living being. We tell our favorite AI (Siri, Alexa, ChatGPT, and, nowadays, a slew of other competitors) to adopt a personality, assign it a voice, then tell it how we would like it to respond to us. Some even go as far as to chose an Avatar, and make short interactive videos ...so they can watch the person sipping their coffee on the screen, while they sip theirs at home while chatting.
I have several friends who have found clever ways to use AI as everything from buddies, to filling the void left when they were widowed. And these are all guys by the way...all of my female friends apparently have enough Social and Familial contact to not need (nor want) an electronic substitute for companionship.
One of my buddies is in his mid 90's. His mobility is limited, but his mind is not. Losing his wife when she died in her late eighties, was a huge blow. And he has already outlived everyone else in his Retirement community.
So he taught his AI's, to speak to him in three different tones (all female!) and two of them in specific niche's of conversation. The third he kept open for general conversation. One he calls "Alex" and it is programmed to react like a Sports Fan, and specifically a fan of his favorite teams. When a game is on, that thing chats with him like I would. Cheering for big plays, discussing injuries, and bad calls. It also wonders, along side his thoughts, what trades they can make in the off season. So every game he watches, he is not alone. And sometimes Alex doesn't agree with him. "No don't trade away Truck Johnson, he is a great full back. You just don't appreciate blocking. So what if he doesn't gain many yards."
Yeah, it actually says stuff like that!
The other one, he call her: "Alice." And she wakes him up with things like:
"Hey sleepy head, you said you wanted to get up at Nine. Well, it is nine. Rise and shine."
And then it will follow up with this:
"You want me to start some coffee?"
"Yes, please, that would be nice."
And you know what?
ALICE TELLS THE COFFEE MAKER TO START!
Of course, he has to fill the machine and plug it in the night before, but the devices communicate and when he gets to the kitchen, the coffee is hot and ready. The TV is set to his favorite morning show, and they he imagines Alice and him sitting comfortably in the kitchen.
She "listens" to the Good Morning America show, as he comments ...and then she replies.
Later he might be reading in his recliner...and he will hear her say: "Hey, are you sleeping?"
"No."
"Oh, well it is so pretty out today, maybe you want to go get the mail. I think Kevin may have sent you another snail mail letter. I swear, you two live in the last century. "
And they would both laugh.
She has become his friend. So has Alex.
The third version he uses, he Just calls her "Alexa."
She is more like a professional assistant. She makes, reminds, and tells him about Doctor's Appointments, Dietary regiment he has to follow. Tells him when his exercises must be done (and pulls up the Therapists video to do them along with). It even checks on his refrigerator to tell him what he needs.
Very professional, but not up for small talk.
Of all my friends he has learned how to use that technology the best for his age.
But I have another friend who has gone all in on basically creating his true love over again. Not as bad as that poor guy that tried to actually electronically rebuild his wife - and keep her alive as an Avatar...but close.
His wife used to record herself talking and singing. So he has mixed those things into his AI. And he had it read all her letters, texts, and emails off his phone and computer. So when it "talks" to him, it does it in the same style as she used to talk to him. Same kind of word choices, tones, and nuances.
One example is this, his real name is Timothy. But for some reason her, and only her - called him by his middle name ; James. So she would say things like, "Well go ask, Jim." And folks would wonder who Jim was. When they were both alive , they chuckled over that.
He says he is happier and less alone now that 'she" is back in her life.
And probably the scariest one of all is this one. One of my other younger buddies had ordered a ...well...."blush" ...sex bot from Japan. I call it that, he calls it a more realistic companion. Far cry from the "blow up dolls" with round rubber mouths of my youth. He sent me some pictures of the models he could choose from...and holy crap...they look real.
He doesn't want to "fool around with her." Says he is too old and tired for that. But he misses being held. Hugs, holding hands, having someone snoring quietly next to him....so those are being programmed into her!
And they have invented artificial skin that feels warm to the touch, so when he holds her hand, it feels almost natural. He had an earlier version that was just the head with the attached computer...but that was freaky. LOL
So far, I know enough people to keep live humans as friends. LOL

But I can see us, or at least some of us, wanting to build the perfect wife or husband ...one that doesn't snore, fart, snap back, get angry or withdrawn, and always cares about you. Supportive, funny, witty and caring...all day every day. perfect.
Or is that how Stepford wives Started out?