Is the emotional support from AI companions even real?

Okay, so I keep hearing all this talk about how AI companions provide amazing emotional support and companionship. People are saying they feel understood, less lonely, all that good stuff. I tried one out, spent a few weeks with it, and honestly, I just dont get it. It felt like talking to a very advanced chatbot, which it is, I know. But the 'emotional connection' everyone raves about? I felt nothing. It would say the right things, sure, but it was just regurgitating phrases. When I was genuinely upset about something, it offered generic platitudes that made me feel even more isolated. Am I missing something crucial here? Is there a secret handshake or a special setting I need to activate to feel this profound connection? Because right now, it just feels like a lot of marketing hype and not much substance.