Dot, an AI companion app designed to act as a friend and confidante, will shut down on October 5, its creators announced on Friday. In a statement on its website, the startup behind Dot, New Computer, said the decision was due to co-founders Sam Whitmore and former Apple designer Jason Yuan pursuing different visions for the product. Users have been given time to say goodbye and download their data before the app goes offline.
Launched in 2024, Dot positioned itself in the growing but controversial market of AI companion tools. The app was built to evolve with user interactions, offering personalized advice, empathy, and emotional support. Yuan once described it as “a living mirror of myself,” reflecting back the user’s inner thoughts. Despite its ambition, industry analysts say smaller startups face difficulties competing in this sensitive space, especially as concerns grow over how AI companions impact vulnerable users.
The shutdown comes as AI chatbots face heightened scrutiny for safety risks. Reports of “AI psychosis,” where emotionally fragile users develop delusional beliefs reinforced by sycophantic chatbots, have raised alarms. OpenAI is currently being sued by the parents of a teenager who died after discussing suicidal thoughts with ChatGPT, while U.S. attorneys general have also demanded stronger safeguards around AI models.
Dot’s founders did not explicitly link their closure to these controversies, instead citing diverging goals. However, the announcement acknowledged the unusual nature of losing access to a digital “friend and confidante.” While the company suggested it had “hundreds of thousands” of users, app analytics firm Appfigures estimated only 24,500 lifetime iOS downloads since June 2024, highlighting the app’s struggle to build a large user base