As the digital landscape becomes increasingly saturated with AI-generated material, a new startup named First Voyage aims to assist users in steering clear of low-quality automated content while fostering positive personal routines. The company has introduced an AI companion application called Momo Self Care, which centers on a digital pet named Momo. By caring for this virtual companion, users receive reminders to accomplish their chosen habit-building tasks.

Individuals can configure alerts for specific objectives, and Momo will prompt them accordingly. Much like the popular productivity tool Focus Friend, the app also incentivizes task completion by awarding coins. These coins can be spent within the app to acquire items for further customizing the pet. Additionally, users can engage in conversations with Momo about self-care, and the AI will suggest habits and activities tailored to their goals.

This week, First Voyage announced it secured $2.5 million in a seed funding round. The investment was led by a16z speedrun, SignalFire, and True Global, among other participants.

According to the company, Momo users have already created over 2 million tasks on the platform, with the most popular habits focusing on productivity, spirituality, and mindfulness. Yet, amid a surge of new AI applications and interactive toys entering the market—alongside the growing prevalence of AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Grok—there is rising apprehension about whether these digital "companions" might cause more detriment than benefit.

The founder expressed confidence that relationships between AI characters and humans will become more common in the coming years. He pointed out, however, that the proliferation of AI apps designed for wellness and self-care represents a positive trend compared to those targeting primal urges. "We are happy so many founders [and] startups are working in the AI self-care wellness space instead of building waifus," he remarked, adding that "the personalization capability of AI will take the impact of these relationships to another level."

He also emphasized that Momo incorporates safety measures, such as prompt filters, to ensure conversations remain within appropriate boundaries. The newly acquired funds will support the launch of Momo on the Android app store, following its existing availability on iOS. The team at First Voyage further plans to enhance Momo's intelligence in user interactions.

"We hope Momo and the community around it become a defining consumer brand that uses the best of AI, animation, and gamification to improve as many lives as possible," the founder stated.