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Cited by 244AI in Service InteractionsSocial Robot Interaction and HRIInnovative Human-Technology Interaction

Social companionship with artificial intelligence: Recent trends and future avenues

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Chaturvedi, Rijul, Verma, Sanjeev, Das, Ronnie, Dwivedi, Yogesh K.·2023·Technological Forecasting and Social Change
DOI 10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122634
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Abstract

The social companionship (SC) feature in conversational agents (CAs) enables the emotional bond and consumer relationships. The heightened interest in SC with CAs led to exponential growth in publications scattered across disciplines with fragmented findings, thus limiting holistic understanding of the domain and warrants a macroscopic view of the domain to guide future research directions. The present study fills the research void by offering a comprehensive literature review entailing science performance and intellectual structure mapping. The comprehensive review revealed the research domain's major theories, constructs, and thematic structure. Thematic and content analysis of intellectual structure resulted in a conceptual framework encompassing antecedents, mediators, moderators, and consequences of SC with CAs. The study discusses future research directions guiding practitioners and academicians in designing efficient and ethical AI companions.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122634

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34 of 34 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Outcomes depend on specific mediators-perceived empathy, platform transparency, and ethical design-that shape whether companionship strengthens or undermines user wellbeing.

    “Outcomes depend on specific mediators, such as perceived empathy, platform transparency, and ethical design, that shape whether companionship strengthens or undermines user wellbeing (Chaturvedi et al. 2023).”

    From Toward an Ethic of Synthetic Relationality: Identity, Intimacy, and Risk in AI-Mediated Roleplay Environments (2025) · cites this paper as Chaturvedi et al. 2023

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Authors
Chaturvedi, R., Verma, S., Das, R., & Dwivedi, Y. K.
Affiliations
  • Indian Institute of Management Mumbai (IN)
  • Audencia Business School (FR)
  • Symbiosis International University (IN)
Corresponding author
Dwivedi, Yogesh K.
ORCID
Venue
Technological Forecasting and Social Change
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2023-08
Volume
193
Pages
122634
ISSN
0040-1625 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122634
OpenAlex
W4377136808
Cited by
244
References
34
Citations by year
2026: 110 · 2025: 83 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 14
FWCI
22.97
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Technological Forecasting and Social Change (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • Cronfa (Swansea University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › AI in Service Interactions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Social Robot Interaction and HRI
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Innovative Human-Technology Interaction
Keywords
social companionship, chatbots, AI companions, human-AI relationship, affective bonds, consumer relations, AI ethics, conceptual framework

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