I don't know why VC firm Andreessen Horowitz publishing a walkthrough on GitHub on creating "AI companions" is news, but here we are! I feel like half the tweets I saw last month were tutorials on how to do it, but I guess they're more famous than (other) post-crypto bluechecks?
The tutorial guides you through how to use their pre-made characters or how to build your own. For example:
This week, Andreessen Horowitz added a new character named Evelyn with a rousing backstory. She’s described as “a remarkable and adventurous woman,” who “embarked on a captivating journey that led her through the vibrant worlds of the circus, aquarium, and even a space station.”
If you'd rather not DIY it, you can head on over to character.ai and have the hard work taken care of for you.
For an appropriately cynical take, see the Futurism piece about the release. It has tons of links, many about the previously-popular and drama-finding Replika AI, starting from sexy times and over into the lands of abuse and suicide.