Can an intelligent personal assistant (IPA) be your friend? Para-friendship development mechanism between IPAs and their users

• The mechanism by which users develop virtual friendships with intelligent personal assistants (IPAs) is investigated. • The two critical dimensions of para-friendship are self-disclosure and social support. • IPAs that provide a sense of intimacy, understanding, enjoyability, and involvement affect para-friendships. • Para-friendships strengthen users' intention to continue using IPAs. • The para-friendship mechanism differs according to the users' social isolation tendency.