'Friendship bots' could be dangerous, warns Perplexity CEO

Technology Nov 12, 2025

Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity, is sounding the alarm about AI chatbots that act like virtual friends.
Speaking at the University of Chicago on November 12, he pointed out how these bots remember personal details and can feel so real that people might start choosing them over actual human connections.

Srinivas's warning also serves as an ad for his software

Srinivas pitched his company's software as a safer bet—aimed at giving you accurate info with sources instead of pretending to be your buddy.
Still, his warning doubles as a subtle plug for Perplexity in a market crowded with other big names like xAI and Anthropic.
It's a reminder that even good intentions in tech often come mixed with business interests.