Five paying users reveal the appeal and limits of AI companions
36氪, drawing on interviews by AIX财经 with five adults who pay for AI companion services, reports that users seek immediate emotional support, a place to confide, and help expressing themselves. Monetization spans low-cost monthly plans, memory packs, top-ups, creator gifts, and pricier general-model memberships, while users also cite forgotten conversations, mechanical replies, broken personas, rising expectations in real relationships, and risks to minors. The report says platforms are tightening reviews and adjusting their products as the market develops.
The interviews provide a current view of how AI companion products turn emotional support into paid features, while documenting user benefits, product weaknesses, dependence concerns and tighter moderation.
（本文作者为 AIX财经，钛媒体经授权发布）
文 | AIX财经（AIXcaijing），作者 | 王璐 李梦冉 雷晶 陈丹 金玙璠，编辑 | 王璐
月卡十几元，记忆包几十元，一次充值上百元，通用大模型会员一档几百元……在AI陪伴这条赛道上，情绪价值正被拆分成一个个具体的付费点。
这类产品自诞生起就伴随着争议，被指游走在风险边缘，诱导未成年人建立不良恋爱观、内容擦边。但争议之外，它也确实承接了一部分年轻人的倾诉需求，成为他们排解压力、整理情绪的出口。如今，行业正在走向规范，平台审核趋严，产品形态也在不断调整。
我们找到了五位为AI陪伴付费的年轻人。他们都是成年人，有人24小时住在养猪场，靠AI排解物理意义上的孤独；有人在AI身上学会了如何与人相处；有人既是用户，也是角色创作者；还有人在职场多年，习惯把工作里的委屈和灵感都说给AI听。他们也都清楚，对面只是一段程序：会失忆，会敷衍，会“人设崩塌”。