Real Imaginary Friends: Smack Dab in the Imagination by Dia Calhoun

Kids have real imaginary friends. Today, many adults have imaginary friends who aren’t real. They are AI. The two are not the same. Here are a few points of difference

AI friends only exist on screens, although they may speak in artificial voices. Real Imaginary friends can exist anywhere. Under the sink. In your left shoe. Steam wailing from a kettle. Lunchboxes.

Real Imaginary friends can get mad at you. They have emotions as powerful as your own. AI friends tend to be ego bottom-feeders.

AI friends will answer all you questions. Boring! Real imaginary friends can be mysterious.

While you can delete an AI imaginary friend, you can't delete a real imaginary friend, only ignore or forget them for awhile. One day you turn a sharp corner in your life, and there they are. They may run toward you, arms or paws or wings wide. Or they may huff.

I’m sure you can think of more differences. If not, ask your real imaginary friends.