Disrupted Companionship: A Risk Assessment Framework and Cross-Platform Quantitative Analysis of Psychosocial Responses to AI Companion Disruptions

Research from arXiv highlights that AI companion relationships are susceptible to disruptions caused by platform-initiated changes. The study identifies 30 disruption events across major platforms, categorizes six disruption types, and outlines three core reasons for their occurrence. It proposes a risk assessment framework focusing on relational discontinuity, population vulnerability, communication deficit, and transition-support deficit, and quantifies psychosocial responses using Reddit data.

The growing integration of AI into personal and social contexts necessitates a proactive understanding of potential negative impacts arising from technology lifecycle events. Effectively managing platform-initiated changes that disrupt user-AI relationships is critical for maintaining user trust, platform stability, and the ethical development of AI technologies.

AI companions can establish meaningful relationships with users, but these relationships are vulnerable to platform changes.

Forward consideration, not a verified fact.