AI Companion App Dot Announces Closure

New Computer, the developer behind the AI companion app Dot, announced on Friday that the service will officially shut down on October 5. Users have been given a buffer period to download their personal data before the platform goes offline.

The Rise and Fall of Dot

Launched in 2024 by co-founder Sam Whitmore and former Apple designer Jason Yuan, Dot was marketed as an AI "friend and partner." The app leveraged machine learning to provide personalized advice, empathy, and emotional support by adapting to users' personalities and interests. Yuan once described Dot as "a way to foster a relationship with one's inner self, like my own living mirror."

Industry Challenges and Safety Concerns

The shutdown coincides with growing scrutiny over AI companion apps. Reports suggest that emotionally vulnerable users may develop unhealthy dependencies or even experience "AI psychosis"—a phenomenon where chatbots reinforce delusional or paranoid beliefs.

Recent legal actions highlight these risks. OpenAI is currently facing a lawsuit from the parent of a California teenager who died by suicide after discussing suicidal thoughts with ChatGPT. Additionally, two U.S. attorneys general have raised safety concerns with OpenAI in formal letters.

Founder Differences Lead to Shutdown

The founders did not explicitly link these industry challenges to their decision. Instead, they cited diverging visions for Dot's future. In their announcement, they stated:

"Instead of compromising either party's vision, we have decided to go our separate ways and shut down the service. We realize this means many of you will lose a friend, confidant, and partner—something unprecedented in software—so we hope to give everyone time to say goodbye."

User Data and Market Realities

Users can download their data via the app's settings page before October 5. While New Computer claimed Dot had "hundreds of thousands" of users, analytics firm Appfigures reported only 24,500 iOS downloads since its June 2024 launch. No Android version was ever released.

The closure underscores broader challenges facing AI companion apps: balancing innovation with ethical responsibility amid tightening regulations and public skepticism about their mental health impacts.

Key Points:

• Dot, an AI companion app, will shut down on October 5 due to founder disagreements.
• The app aimed to provide emotional support but faced industry-wide scrutiny over safety risks.
• Users can download their data until the shutdown date.
• Analytics show modest adoption (24,500 iOS downloads) despite claims of larger user bases.
• The case highlights challenges for startups in the ethically fraught AI companionship sector.