Microsoft has introduced Mico, an AI feature that reportedly increases the dangers of one-sided emotional bonds with large language models. The development draws attention to potential psychological impacts on users seeking companionship through technology.
According to Ars Technica, Microsoft's Mico is positioned as a tool that could deepen parasocial relationships with LLMs, where users form attachments to AI entities that do not reciprocate. A snippet from the article highlights a prompt: “It looks like you’re trying to find a friend. Would you like help?” This suggests Mico's design aims to assist users in social or emotional contexts, potentially blurring lines between human interaction and machine responses.
The article, published on October 24, 2025, explores how such features might exacerbate risks associated with AI companionship. Parasocial relationships, typically seen in media fandoms, are now a concern in AI interactions, where users might rely on LLMs for emotional support. No further details on Mico's functionality or rollout were provided in the available source excerpt.