Dot
Personalized AI companion app by New Computer that learned a user's interests to offer advice and support.
RIP Dot
Shut down · October 2025
Dot was a personalized AI companion app built by New Computer, founded by Sam Whitmore and ex-Apple designer Jason Yuan. Launched on iOS in June 2024, it aimed to act as a friend and confidante that grew more tailored to each user over time. In September 2025 the founders said their long-term visions had diverged, and rather than compromise either one they chose to wind down the company. The app ceased operations on October 5, 2025.
Last known pricing: Free tier plus paid subscription
Is Dot shut down?
Yes. Dot shut down in Oct 2025 and is no longer available. Its record is preserved in the ToolDirectory.AI graveyard, our hand-reviewed registry of AI tools that shut down or were acquired.
What to use instead
Msty AI
Local-first AI studio for chat, agents, and knowledge work that runs private models on your own device.
Freemium
4.84
279
Upstream
AI-native email inbox where agents triage messages, draft replies in your voice, and follow up.
Freemium
4.83
234
Acti
Agentic keyboard for iOS and Android that turns typed intent into actions across your apps.
Free
4.83
256
Overview
Dot: the personalized AI companion New Computer chose to wind down
Dot was a personalized AI companion app from New Computer, the startup founded by Sam Whitmore and former Apple designer Jason Yuan. It launched on iOS in June 2024 and positioned itself as a friend and confidante that would learn a user's interests over time to offer advice, sympathy, and emotional support.
New Computer was effectively a single-product company built around Dot. The app drew attention for its design and its memory-driven approach to a long-running AI relationship.
Key Features
- Personalized AI companion that adapted to each user over time
- Long-term memory intended to make conversations feel continuous
- Advice, reflection, and emotional-support style conversations
- iOS-only app with a data-export option before shutdown
- Design-led interface from the New Computer founding team
What happened to Dot
In early September 2025, New Computer announced Dot would shut down. The founders said their guiding visions for the product had diverged, and rather than compromise either direction they decided to wind down the company entirely. There was no acquirer. The app remained available until October 5, 2025, and users were told to export their data through the settings page before that date.
FAQ
Why did Dot shut down? Co-founders Sam Whitmore and Jason Yuan said their long-term visions for the product had diverged, so they wound down New Computer rather than compromise either direction.
When did Dot stop working? Dot ceased operations on October 5, 2025; users could export their data until that date.
Was Dot acquired? No. New Computer wound down on its own with no acquirer.
tl;dr
Dot was New Computer's personalized AI companion app, launched in 2024 by Sam Whitmore and Jason Yuan. The founders' visions diverged, and the company wound the app down on October 5, 2025, with no acquirer.