Your New Best Friend Is an AI Catfish With PhDs

In an era where even bot farms are leveling up, Vanderbilt profs warn of GoLaxy, a sneaky Chinese AI operation creating fake friends who can 'build dynamic psychological profiles' and chat with you in real-time, 'avoids detection' like a pro ninja. Forget fake news, now it’s fake buddies that know your moods better than your therapist — which raises deep questions if your 3 AM chat buddy is just AI advertising depression 2.0. So yes, those fake pals are about to get so 'real' they could gatecrash your emotional therapy sessions. Stay vigilant, the article concludes, because these bots will 'interact with the same savvy as the realest of people.'

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Source: Axios | Published: 8/11/2025 | Author: Jim VandeHei