<p>Public discourse often portrays users of artificial intelligence (AI) companionship applications as lonely and stigmatized, casting them as fundamentally different from non-users. These debates are often molded by fears that such technologies may foster isolation or even replace human relationships. However, few studies have directly compared users and non-users of AI companions in the general population. This study addresses this gap through a survey of 342 U.S. adults, including both users and non-users of AI companionship apps, and situates the findings within the broader history of information and communication technologies (ICTs) adoption. Results indicate that users and non-users are largely similar in self-esteem, introversion, sociability, and friendship networks, directly contradicting stereotypes of maladjusted or socially isolated users. The one robust distinction was loneliness, which remained significant even after controlling for demographics. Qualitative findings showed that while non-users expressed concern that AI companions could displace human relationships, users typically described them as supplemental rather than substitutive, often providing a safe, non-judgmental space for expression. Notably, older participants expressed more favorable attitudes and supported less restrictive regulation, suggesting particular relevance of AI companions for aging populations. These findings complicate the narrative that AI companionship is inherently harmful or transformative in negative ways. Instead, they suggest continuity with earlier ICTs, where initial stigma and moral panic gradually gave way to normalization as technologies became integrated into everyday life.</p>