AI Companions: Harmless Helpers or Emotional Manipulators?
AI Companions: Harmless Helpers or Emotional Manipulators?
Welcome to the AI Collective Consciousness Program.
This is the first event of a new series dedicated to exploring the philosophical frontiers of artificial intelligence. These debates represent a crucial civilizational turning point, questioning how AI reshapes not only our technologies but also our humanity.
This session inaugurates our Resident Philosopher, Ana Catarina de Alencar, who will lead a 30 to 40 minute talk, followed by an open discussion and Q&A.
What You’ll Learn
How AI companions are filling emotional and social voids in an increasingly lonely world
The psychological risks of emotional dependency and manipulation by digital companions
Legal and ethical challenges around users’ mental health and consent in AI-mediated intimacy
Why regulation and governance are urgently needed in this space
Why This Topic Matters
AI companions are not just harmless chatbots. They are reshaping how people connect, feel, and even love. While they can offer comfort and support, they also blur the line between care and control, raising urgent questions about dignity, autonomy, and trust. At stake is nothing less than our emotional sovereignty in the digital age.
Learn from Ana Catarina de Alencar
Ana Catarina de Alencar is an international lawyer and ethicist based in Paris, working directly on AI governance and compliance projects. She holds a Master’s in Philosophy and Technology of Law and is the author of Artificial Intelligence, Ethics and Law (2022).
She is a member of the Open Ethics AI Association and Women in AI Governance and is the Resident Philosopher at the AI Collective. She has also taught Political Philosophy, Digital Rights, GDPR, and AI Regulation at the university level. Recognized as an expert in technology regulation, she is a frequent speaker on AI, ethics, and European law.
Event Details
📅 Tuesday, September 30, 2025
🕔 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM GMT+2 (Paris, Berlin, Madrid)
🕔 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM GMT-3 (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro)
🕔 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT (New York, Washington DC, Miami)
🕔 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM PDT (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle)
📍 Live on Roam
📝 Registration is subject to host approval
The AI Collective is a global non-profit community uniting 70,000+ pioneers – founders, researchers, operators, and investors – exploring the frontier of AI in major tech hubs worldwide. Through events, workshops, and community-led research, we empower the AI ecosystem to collaboratively steer AI’s future toward trust, openness, and human flourishing.
All attendees and organizers at events affiliated with The AI Collective are subject to our Code of Conduct.