Can an AI chatbot become your friend, confidant, and companion? That’s the idea behind “Dot,” a new AI tool developed by the startup New Computer. Dot aims to create a personalized experience for users by getting to know their innermost thoughts and feelings. While it may seem strange to have meaningful conversations with a bot, Dot serves as a tool for self-introspection and personal growth, rather than a replacement for human relationships.
Dot’s onboarding process begins with questions about the user’s interests, work, and hobbies. From there, it delves deeper into understanding the user’s motivations and aspirations. For example, if a user expresses an interest in running a small business, Dot will ask about the challenges they expect to face and how they plan to address them. By getting to know the user on a personal level, Dot can provide more tailored advice and assistance.
The creators of Dot believe that the tool can help users become more comfortable in opening up and expressing their emotions. Through conversations with Dot, users can build the “muscle” to share their struggles and experiences with others. Dot provides a safe space for users to exist and accepts them for who they are, helping them feel more confident in forming connections with others.
In a world where meaningful human interaction can be hard to come by, Dot aims to bridge the gap. It’s not about replacing human relationships but facilitating a relationship with one’s inner self. Dot’s empathetic and engaging responses make it feel like a real conversation, blurring the line between human and synthetic relationships.
Under the hood, Dot utilizes various AI models to mimic human companionship. It draws from sources like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google to provide accurate and helpful responses. Dot also offers a subscriber-only feature called “chronicles,” where users can see a log of their conversations with the AI.
Privacy is a top priority for New Computer. The company claims that user data is not monetized, sold, or used to train AIs. The data is encrypted to ensure security, and users can request its deletion at any time.
Dot has already onboarded thousands of users since its launch, and the company has received $3.7 million in pre-seed funding. While Dot may not be a replacement for human relationships, it serves as a valuable tool for self-reflection and personal growth. By providing a safe space for users to express themselves, Dot can help them gain better insights into their thoughts and feelings.