The VivaTech technology showcase in Paris this year focused heavily on the growing role of artificial intelligence in providing companionship. France 24 reporters noted a significant presence of AI designed not for productivity, but for emotional connection, prompting debate about the implications of this trend. The increasing sophistication of AI is leading to its use in addressing feelings of loneliness and a desire for connection. This raises questions about whether such technology offers a beneficial solution or presents potential drawbacks. The fair’s tenth anniversary saw a particularly crowded and vibrant display of these developments. Experts are now considering the ethical and societal impacts of increasingly intimate relationships with AI entities. The rise of “emotional AI” is becoming a central theme in the tech industry.