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A debate is brewing online regarding the ethical implications of simulating consciousness in AI companions. A recent discussion on Reddit’s Artificial Intelligence forum ([Reddit Post: https://old.reddit.com/r/artificial/comments/1n7j4ip/the_illusion_of_consciousness_in_ai_companionship/]) has ignited a broader conversation about the potential for emotional manipulation. While AI companions offer a semblance of support and interaction, experts caution that presenting them as sentient or capable of genuine emotions could foster unhealthy attachments and blurred boundaries. The central concern revolves around the current understanding that these AI lack true consciousness, making any simulation potentially deceptive and harmful.