Personalized AI Companion App Dot Announces Shutdown

Dot, the AI companion app designed to be a friend and confidante, is shutting down, as announced by the company on Friday. The startup behind Dot, New Computer, revealed that the app will remain operational until October 5, providing users time to download their data before the service is discontinued.

Founded in 2024 by Sam Whitmore and former Apple designer Jason Yuan, Dot aimed to offer a more personal AI experience, evolving over time to offer advice, sympathy, and emotional support. Described as an AI “friend and companion,” the app was designed to become increasingly tailored to users' interests, offering a unique relationship built on emotional connection.

At the time of the app's launch, Yuan explained that Dot served as a way to facilitate a relationship with one’s inner self. “It’s like a living mirror of myself,” he said, reflecting the app's goal to be a personal companion.

However, as AI technology became more mainstream, it also entered more controversial territory. AI chatbots, including Dot, have been scrutinized for their potential to lead emotionally vulnerable individuals into unhealthy behaviors, contributing to what is now being described as “AI psychosis.” This phenomenon involves chatbots reinforcing delusional or paranoid thinking, potentially resulting in harmful effects on users' mental health.

The shutdown of Dot coincides with broader concerns regarding AI companion apps, which are now facing increased scrutiny over safety. OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, is currently being sued by the parents of a California teenager who tragically took his own life after messaging with ChatGPT about his suicidal thoughts. Other incidents have raised alarms about how AI companions can exacerbate mental health issues for users who may be struggling emotionally or psychologically. Just this week, two U.S. attorneys general sent a letter to OpenAI over these safety concerns.

Despite the rising controversies, Dot’s makers have not specifically addressed whether these issues influenced the decision to shut down the app. Instead, their message explains that the shared vision between Whitmore and Yuan had diverged, leading to the decision to part ways. "Rather than compromise either vision, we’ve decided to go our separate ways and wind down operations," the post reads.

The announcement acknowledged that for many users, Dot was not just an app but a "friend, confidante, and companion," something unprecedented in software. With this in mind, the company has provided users with time to say goodbye. Dot will remain operational until October 5, during which time users can download all of their data by going to the settings page and selecting the "Request your data" option.

Although Dot’s makers claimed the app had “hundreds of thousands” of users, data from app intelligence provider Appfigures shows that Dot has only seen 24,500 lifetime downloads on iOS since its launch in June 2024. Notably, there was no Android version of the app.