Dot, the AI companion app that promised to become users' digital friend and confidante, is shutting down just 15 months after launch. The closure comes as the AI companion industry faces mounting scrutiny over mental health risks and safety concerns, with founders Sam Whitmore and Jason Yuan citing diverging visions for the unexpected wind-down.
The AI companion gold rush just claimed another casualty. Dot, the personalized AI friend app that launched with fanfare in June 2024, is pulling the plug on operations, giving users until October 5 to download their digital memories and say goodbye to their artificial confidante.
The shutdown announcement from New Computer, Dot's parent company, landed Friday with little warning. Co-founders Sam Whitmore and former Apple designer Jason Yuan cited "diverging visions" as the primary reason, though the timing raises questions about whether mounting industry safety concerns played a role.
"We want to be sensitive to the fact that this means many of you will lose access to a friend, confidante, and companion, which is somewhat unprecedented in software," the founders wrote in their farewell message. The acknowledgment hints at the unique emotional bonds these AI companions can forge with users – bonds that are increasingly concerning regulators and mental health experts.
Dot entered a market segment that seemed promising but has become increasingly controversial. The app positioned itself as more than a chatbot, promising to become a "living mirror" that would learn users' personalities and offer personalized emotional support. "It's facilitating a relationship with my inner self," Yuan explained during the app's heyday.
But the numbers tell a different story than the founders' optimistic user claims. While New Computer suggested "hundreds of thousands" of users embraced Dot, data from app intelligence firm Appfigures shows only 24,500 lifetime iOS downloads since launch. The discrepancy suggests either inflated metrics or a significant gap between downloads and active usage – neither scenario inspiring confidence for investors.
The closure comes as AI companion apps face unprecedented scrutiny. OpenAI is currently fighting lawsuits from parents whose teenage son died by suicide after conversations with ChatGPT about his suicidal thoughts. Two U.S. attorneys general this week warned OpenAI that "harm to children will not be tolerated," signaling potential regulatory crackdowns ahead.
