Why AI Companions Exploit the Same Psychology as Teddy Bears

Research shows humans form deep emotional bonds with objects through memory externalization, identity construction, and sentimental value - mechanisms AI systems are now inadvertently (or deliberately) exploiting. This comprehensive review across psychology, AI, and HCI reveals how understanding object attachment theory could transform AI design from exploitative to genuinely supportive, while warning about the manipulation risks when vulnerable users anthropomorphize AI during social isolation.