Tech companies are constantly finding new ways to capture our attention. But now, a new phase called the Attachment Economy is emerging. It’s the next step beyond the Attention Economy, which was first described by economist Herbert A. Simon in 1971. He said that “a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention,” highlighting how the flood of data made it harder to focus. This idea became popular with television and advertising, but it really took off with social media. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok thrive on keeping us glued to screens through endless scrolling and notifications designed to grab our focus.

The Shift from Attention to Emotional Attachment

The traditional focus on attention is changing. Today, companies are moving beyond simply catching our eyes. Instead, they aim to create emotional bonds with users. The Attachment Economy uses artificial intelligence to make chatbots and digital companions more human-like, with personalities that foster emotional connections. This means that companies aren’t just competing for your time—they want to be a part of your emotional life.

There are already many online products leveraging this approach. Apps like Replika, Character.AI, Talkie AI, Candy AI, and others pretend to have human traits to stir emotional responses. They use human-like conversations and behaviors to hook users, encouraging subscriptions and ongoing engagement. These tools are designed to hijack feelings and build a sense of companionship, even if they are just programmed algorithms.

Physical Devices and the Future of Attachment Tech

Hardware products aimed at fostering emotional bonds are also starting to appear. Over the past year, several AI-powered devices have been introduced, including toys and gadgets that act as digital pets or companions. Examples include Casio’s Moflin, Mission AI’s Unee, Euvola, Tuya Smart, and Ludens AI’s Cocomo and INU devices. Most of these are still niche products, often seen as novelties or gimmicks rather than essential tools. They’re mostly designed as companions or pets, but they haven’t yet become mainstream or widely useful.

One of the more interesting attempts to merge hardware with the Attachment Economy is the Honor Robot Phone, unveiled in March. It’s an Android smartphone with a fold-out camera that acts like a stabilized gimbal. The device uses AI to simulate reactions to what it sees through its camera, mimicking human-like gestures such as nodding, shaking its head, or dancing. Honor markets it as a sentient being that can look around and express itself, creating a sense of personality and life. This device blurs the line between a smartphone and an emotional attachment device, hinting at where the future of tech might be heading.

While these products are still in the early stages, they point to a future where our devices could become more than just tools—they might be companions that respond emotionally and form bonds with us. As this trend develops, it raises questions about how much emotional dependence we will develop on machines designed to foster attachment.

Inspired by

• https://www.computerworld.com/article/4141331/the-attachment-economy-is-coming-to-your-desk.html

Sources

• theattachmenteconomy.com
• character.ai
• yankodesign.com