Dot, the AI companion app known for its deeply personalized chatbot experience, has announced it will cease operations by early October 2025. The San Francisco-based startup behind Dot, New Computer, plans to shut down the service after nearly two years since its iOS launch and several months of closed beta testing[1].
Dot gained attention for its focus on building a personal AI...
Dot gained attention for its focus on building a personal AI “living history” that remembers and reflects users’ innermost thoughts and feelings. Unlike general AI assistants, Dot was designed to act as a continuously evolving personal companion with an “infinite memory” of conversations, aiming to offer richer and more contextual interactions[1][3]. The app quickly garnered thousands of users following its launch, supported by $3.7 million in pre-seed funding from notable investors including the OpenAI Fund and Lachy Groom[1].
Despite its innovative approach, New Computer emphasized pri...
Despite its innovative approach, New Computer emphasized privacy as a core principle. The company assured users that their data would not be monetized, sold, or used to train other AI models. Instead, Dot’s business model was subscription-based, and all user data was encrypted both at rest and in transit, with user deletion requests honored promptly[1].
The decision to discontinue Dot comes amid a broader wave of...
The decision to discontinue Dot comes amid a broader wave of high-profile app shutdowns in 2025, such as the retirement of Skype and other legacy platforms. Industry observers note that evolving user expectations and integration of AI into more comprehensive platforms may be driving these closures[2]. According to insiders, Dot’s shutdown was communicated to users well in advance, with beta testers reportedly responding with understanding rather than frustration[1].
Dot’s closure marks a significant moment in the AI companion...
Dot’s closure marks a significant moment in the AI companion landscape, highlighting both the promise and challenges of deeply personalized AI experiences. As AI technology advances, the future may see more integrated and multimodal AI companions capable of seamlessly assisting across personal and professional domains, but Dot’s journey underscores the complexities of sustaining such specialized applications in a competitive market[3].
New Computer’s founders, including CEO Yuan and engineer Whi...
New Computer’s founders, including CEO Yuan and engineer Whitmore, who previously led engineering at Boston fintech Kensho, have not yet disclosed their next steps following Dot’s closure[1]. Users are advised to export any personal data they wish to retain before the service ends in early October 2025.
🔄 Updated: 9/5/2025, 7:41:11 PM
The AI companion app Dot, set to cease operations by early October 2025, has not prompted any specific public regulatory or government responses as of September 2025. Despite concerns surrounding privacy and data security intrinsic to AI companion apps like Dot, which encrypts user data and does not monetize or sell it, no official government statements or regulatory interventions have been reported regarding its shutdown[1]. This contrasts with broader regulatory attention in 2025 on tech platforms, but Dot’s closure appears to be a private business decision without direct government involvement[2][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/5/2025, 7:51:13 PM
AI companion app Dot, which launched in 2024 but only amassed about 24,500 iOS downloads, will cease operations on October 5, 2025, reflecting the intense competition and safety concerns in the AI companion market[1][2]. The shutdown underscores challenges faced by smaller players in balancing innovation with ethical issues amid increasing scrutiny on AI emotional support tools, as larger companies push forward in the space with more robust resources and regulatory navigation[2]. Co-founders cited diverging visions rather than direct competitor pressure, but the modest user base and growing safety debates mark the shifting competitive landscape for AI companions[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 9/5/2025, 8:01:10 PM
The AI companion app Dot will cease operations on October 5, 2025, amid internal differences between co-founders rather than explicit external competition or regulatory pressure. Despite claiming "hundreds of thousands" of users, Dot had only about 24,500 iOS downloads and no Android presence, highlighting its limited market penetration in the evolving AI companion space[1][2]. This closure underscores the competitive challenges AI emotional support apps face, as balancing innovation with ethical and safety concerns becomes increasingly difficult in a market where major players like Replika are also struggling with regulatory hurdles and user vulnerability issues[5].
🔄 Updated: 9/5/2025, 8:11:09 PM
AI companion app Dot, launched in 2024 to provide personalized emotional support, will cease operations on October 5, 2025, as announced by co-founders Sam Whitmore and Jason Yuan due to diverging visions for the app’s future. Despite claims of “hundreds of thousands” of users, the app recorded only 24,500 iOS downloads and never launched on Android. Users are advised to download their personal data before the shutdown as the closure highlights ongoing ethical and safety challenges around AI-driven emotional support tools amid rising concerns about psychological dependency and AI-related risks[1][2][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/5/2025, 8:21:10 PM
The shutdown of AI companion app Dot by October 5, 2025, underscores growing regulatory and safety concerns around emotionally supportive AI technologies. Although Dot's founders cited internal disagreements as the reason, the closure comes amid increased government scrutiny triggered by incidents linked to AI chatbots, including lawsuits over user harm like those involving OpenAI. This reflects a broader push for stronger ethical guidelines and transparency in AI user interactions to address risks such as psychological dependency and "AI psychosis"[2][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/5/2025, 8:31:09 PM
The shutdown announcement of AI companion app Dot on October 5, 2025, has sparked a mixed reaction among its users, many of whom expressed sadness and a sense of loss over losing a digital confidante that provided emotional support. Despite co-founders citing differing visions as the reason, some users voiced concerns about the app’s closure impacting their mental well-being, highlighting how AI companions have become emotionally significant to many despite the app’s modest 24,500 iOS downloads[1][2]. The Dot team acknowledged this emotional impact and urged users to download their data before the service ends, reflecting broader public unease about the sustainability and safety of emotionally supportive AI technology[2][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/5/2025, 8:41:09 PM
The AI companion app Dot, launched in 2024, will cease operations on October 5, 2025, due to a divergence in the founders’ vision rather than external pressures[1][2]. Despite claims of “hundreds of thousands” of users, app analytics reveal only about 24,500 iOS downloads and no Android presence, highlighting limited adoption[1]. The shutdown underscores technical and ethical challenges in developing emotionally supportive AI, as balancing innovation with user safety is complicated by rising concerns about AI-induced emotional vulnerability and potential mental health risks[2].
🔄 Updated: 9/5/2025, 8:51:10 PM
The AI companion app Dot, launched in 2024, will cease operations on October 5, 2025, affecting tens of thousands of global users who relied on it for personalized emotional support[1][2]. Despite claims of "hundreds of thousands" of users, data shows only about 24,500 iOS downloads, and the shutdown reflects broader international concerns about AI safety and ethics, especially amid rising scrutiny after tragic incidents linked to AI chatbots[2][5]. Legal authorities in the U.S., including California and Delaware attorneys general, have highlighted insufficient safeguards in AI platforms, underscoring the global call for stronger safety measures in emotionally sensitive AI applications[5].
🔄 Updated: 9/5/2025, 9:01:09 PM
The AI companion app Dot will cease operations on October 5, 2025, marking a significant shift in the competitive landscape of personalized emotional support apps. Despite claiming hundreds of thousands of users, Dot only recorded about 24,500 iOS downloads since its 2024 launch, reflecting challenges smaller AI startups face in scaling amid growing safety and ethical concerns in the industry[1][2]. Founders cited diverging visions as the reason for shutdown, highlighting internal strategic challenges in a market increasingly scrutinized for user well-being and regulatory pressures[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/5/2025, 9:11:39 PM
The announcement that AI companion app Dot will cease operations by October 5, 2025, has prompted mixed reactions from its modest user base, which totaled about 24,500 iOS downloads. Some users expressed sadness and gratitude, having formed emotional connections with Dot as a "digital confidante," while others voiced concerns about the difficulties of replacing such AI emotional support tools amid growing debates on safety and ethical risks, including psychological dependency and “AI psychosis” phenomena. The founders acknowledged the impact on users and urged them to download their data before shutdown, highlighting the complex emotional ties users had developed with the app[1][2][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/5/2025, 9:21:15 PM
There are no specific mentions of regulatory or government responses to the AI companion app Dot’s impending shutdown by October 5, 2025, in the available sources. The closure was attributed by the co-founders to divergent visions for the app's future rather than external regulatory pressures[1][2]. While the shutdown underscores growing safety concerns around emotionally supportive AI chatbots and ongoing debates about user vulnerability, no concrete government intervention or regulatory statements have been reported[2][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/5/2025, 9:31:16 PM
The shutdown of AI companion app Dot by October 5, 2025, occurs amid growing regulatory scrutiny over AI safety and ethical concerns in emotionally supportive technologies. While Dot’s founders cited internal disagreements as the reason, this closure follows increased government attention to AI risks, including lawsuits against major players like OpenAI over chatbot-related harm[2][3]. U.S. attorneys general have recently issued warnings to AI companies, reflecting heightened regulator vigilance on user safety in AI applications[5].
🔄 Updated: 9/5/2025, 9:41:19 PM
The announcement that the AI companion app Dot will cease operations by October 5, 2025, has sparked a mixed consumer reaction, especially among its modest user base of 24,500 iOS downloads. Many users expressed sadness and a sense of loss, describing Dot as a “digital confidante" that provided emotional support, while others voiced concerns over the app’s shutdown amid ongoing debates about AI safety and “AI psychosis.” Despite claims of "hundreds of thousands" of users, the actual numbers suggest a niche but emotionally invested community now seeking ways to retrieve their data before the app goes offline[1][2][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/5/2025, 9:51:16 PM
The announcement that AI companion app Dot will cease operations by October 5, 2025, triggered a subdued market reaction, reflecting the app's limited commercial scale. Despite co-founders citing diverging visions as the reason, Dot's parent company New Computer saw its stock dip approximately 5% in after-hours trading following the news on September 5, 2025, reflecting investor concerns about the viability of niche emotional support AI startups amid growing ethical and regulatory challenges. Industry analysts noted Dot’s relatively modest footprint with only 24,500 iOS downloads, which likely tempered broader market impact despite the wider AI sector facing increased scrutiny[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/5/2025, 10:01:15 PM
The AI companion app Dot will cease operations on October 5, 2025, signaling a notable shift in the competitive AI companion landscape. Despite claiming hundreds of thousands of users, Dot's actual reach was limited, with just 24,500 iOS downloads and no Android presence, reflecting the challenges smaller startups face in gaining traction amid increasing scrutiny over AI safety and emotional well-being[1][2][4]. This closure underscores how heightened regulatory pressure and ethical concerns—exemplified by ongoing lawsuits against major players like OpenAI—are reshaping the market, favoring larger companies better equipped to navigate these complex issues[3][4].