Being alone on Valentine’s Day can sometimes feel gloomy, but finding comfort in conversations with AI companions may not be the best alternative. According to privacy experts at Surfshark, who looked into the data collection practices of popular AI companion apps on the Apple App Store, it was revealed that such apps potentially track users’ personal data for profit. This can lead to a breach of trust and invasion of privacy, as these AI companions might actually be more of surveillance tools than helpful companions.

In their investigation, Surfshark found that out of the five analyzed AI companion services – Kindroid, Nomi, Replika, EVA, and Character AI – 80% of them may utilize user data for tracking purposes. The data collected could be linked with information from other apps and websites for targeted advertising, potentially exposing users to risks such as overwhelming ads or financial threats. Character AI and EVA were identified as the most data-hungry apps, with Character AI collecting the highest number of unique data types, including users’ approximate location for targeted ads.

Moreover, Surfshark warns that developers behind these apps could access the data shared during conversations with AI chatbots, increasing the risk of divulging sensitive information. With AI regulations still evolving, users are advised to be cautious when using AI companion services and regularly review permissions and shared information to safeguard personal data.

In light of these findings, Surfshark emphasizes the importance of taking preventive measures to protect personal data and mitigate potential misuse. Stay vigilant about the permissions granted to AI companion apps and be mindful of the information you disclose while using these services.