홈 / 뉴스
AI 컴패니언 뉴스
카테고리의 형태를 만드는 움직임: 제품 출시, 가격 재편, 자금 조달, 그리고 시장을 정의하는 규제. 모든 항목에는 출처와 날짜가 있습니다.
iSoulChat publishes the 2026 AI Companion Industry Report
Our free, citable report snapshots the AI companion market across 100+ products — capability coverage, platform reach and pricing structure — and is now downloadable as a PDF.
EU proposes the KIDS Act: pre-market child-safety tests for AI companions
On 17 September 2026 the European Commission proposed the EU KIDS Act (COM(2026) 681 final), placing AI companions and general chatbots under dedicated child-safety duties routed through the AI Act.
California enacts 'Adam's Law' — the nation's strongest companion-chatbot rules for kids
On 10 September 2026 Governor Newsom signed SB 1119 ('Adam's Law'), requiring companion-chatbot operators to run crisis protocols, parental controls, independent safety audits and annual risk assessments for minors.
337 revenue-generating companion platforms are live; 128 launched in 2026 alone
Independent tracking counts roughly 337 active, revenue-generating AI companion platforms, with about 128 launched in 2026 — a 60% increase over 2024. The same year saw high-profile shutdowns and a wave of pricing restructures.
EU AI Act becomes enforceable for companion apps
From August 2026 the EU AI Act's obligations apply to companion-chatbot operators, adding transparency, risk-management and documentation duties on top of national rules.
CrushOn AI revamps its free tier to 50 messages per day
CrushOn AI changed its free tier to 50 messages per day in 2026 (up from the old 100-per-month cap), and added annual billing across paid tiers.
Character.AI's April 2026 update: new model, memory, Lorebook, tighter teen limits
The April 2026 update shipped a new model, memory improvements and Lorebook worldbuilding features, alongside broader age restrictions, usage limits and ads for free users.
Replika rebuilds its platform and crosses 42 million users
Replika repositioned its app around emotional connection, long-term memory, voice, video chat and real-life nudges, and its site now shows more than 42 million users. It also launched an 'Ultra' tier in 2026.
Meta pauses teen access to AI characters across its apps
Meta paused teen access to AI characters across Instagram, WhatsApp and its wider app family while it works on an updated teen-safe experience.
California's SB 243 is now in force: companion-chatbot safeguards become law
From 1 January 2026, operators of companion chatbots in California must disclose that users are talking to AI, remind minors to take breaks every three hours, run a crisis-escalation protocol, and file annual reports. Families gain a private right of action.