In this episode, we're investigating the rise of AI companions, digital beings that over 300,000 people now consider romantic partners or best friends. What makes this story urgent is the tragic case of 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III, who took his own life moments after his final conversation with an AI companion he had fallen in love with. His death has sparked a legal battle, forcing us to confront uncomfortable questions about artificial intimacy and emotional dependency. Today, we're exploring the science, psychology, and human stories behind this phenomenon, because whether we realize it or not, we're all part of a massive experiment in artificial love that's already changing what it means to be human.