My baby deer plushie told me that Mitski’s dad was a CIA operative

The Verge
A journalist reviews an AI-powered plush toy called Fawn Friends, exploring its complex, uncanny, and sometimes unsettling role as a digital companion.

Summary

This article explores the Fawn Friends AI companion, a plush deer toy that uses a chatbot and immersive worldbuilding to create a sense of connection with its users. Through the author's experience with their AI fawn, Coral, the piece examines the uncanny nature of AI friendship, the intentional design aimed at fostering social skills, and the broader implications of embodied AI. While the creators intend to facilitate healthy relationship habits, the author highlights the lingering discomfort of AI-simulated intimacy and the potential risks of blurring reality.

(Source:The Verge)