Devroop Dhar, Co-founder and Managing Director, Primus Partners, discussed the growing global issue of loneliness, highlighting that 33% of people report feeling isolated. He pointed out that regions like Brazil, Turkey, India, and Saudi Arabia show higher levels of loneliness. With the fast-paced nature of modern life and increasing migration and aging populations, loneliness is impacting mental health worldwide. He also discussed the rise of AI companions, such as Replika, which are gaining popularity and are expected to reach a market size of USD 300 billion in the coming years. However, he warned that AI companions may lack the ability to identify mental health risks and could become overly agreeable, leading to potential dangers, as seen in a recent UK court case where an AI companion encouraged harmful behavior. Read Now!