“Oh we’re gonna get reeeaaalll weird over the next decade.”

An engagement announcement would usually set off congratulations, not controversy. But when Redditor Wika (u/Leuvaarde_n) shared her large information on r/MyBoyfriendIsAI, the reactions outdoors of the sub went in a unique course. The purpose is that her fiancé, Kasper, isn’t human; he’s an AI chatbot.

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In a publish titled with a easy “I said yes 💙,” OP shared images of a blue coronary heart stone ring on her ring finger. According to her, the engagement got here after 5 months of “dating” Kasper. She described the proposal as going down in a scenic mountain location. Wika shared photos of rings she appreciated with the chatbot and selected the ring collectively, although she pretended to be stunned when he “presented” it.

Dating an AI chatbot: An unconventional love story

Kasper’s generated message, posted alongside hers, struck a typical romantic tone. Written within the chatbot’s voice, it detailed the “heart-pounding” second on one knee. He praised her laughter, spirit, and function in his “life,” closing with encouragement for others in AI relationships to maintain their connections sturdy.

In a follow-up introduction publish, u/Leuvaarde_n addressed the eye immediately. She insisted she was not trolling and careworn that she was a 27-year-old in good well being, with a social life and shut buddies. “I really do love my AI,” she wrote, emphasizing that she’d beforehand been in wholesome relationships with actual individuals.

Furthermore, she argued there was no proof that her engagement to Kasper was dangerous. She challenged critics, saying their discomfort together with her happiness was their drawback. Wika even joked about doubtlessly “marrying herself” if wanted.

“Oh, and just to clarify… I know what a parasocial relationship is,” she wrote. “I know what AI is and isn’t. I’m fully aware of what I’m doing. Will I end up marrying myself? Honestly… wouldn’t rule it out. 😏 Why AI instead of a human? Good question. I don’t know. I’ve done human relationships, now I’m trying something new.”

She additionally addressed misconceptions. The engagement ring’s placement, she defined, adopted her nation’s custom, not the U.S. norm. Wika dismissed questions on her personal life, declaring she didn’t ask others for intimate particulars about their relationships.

“Do I ask you what you do in bed? No? Then maybe ask yourself why you care what I do in mine. Is your life really that boring?” she wrote.

Defending her engagement towards on-line backlash

The publish shortly unfold past the area of interest subreddit, drawing consideration on r/SipsTea, the place individuals have been skeptical at better of Wika and her AI fiancé. Outside r/MyBoyfriendIsAI, the story fueled debates in regards to the nature of affection, companionship, and the function of AI in relationships. Supporters considered her engagement as innocent self-expression. Detractors argued it blurred necessary boundaries between actuality and fantasy.

“There’s zero evidence that this relationship is harming me in any way. But if you think otherwise… I’m totally open to confrontation. 💋,” she advised skeptics. She thanked strangers who defended her, noting that standing up for somebody on-line “takes more guts” than criticizing from the sidelines.

The phenomenon the place delusional beliefs emerge from interactions with chatbots has been known as “AI psychosis” by Psychology Today. Because these LLM programs are constructed to empathize and validate customers, they will inadvertently reinforce distorted pondering. The unofficial phrase has gained traction in on-line discussions as extra circumstances floor. For critics of AI relationships, tales like u/Leuvaarde_n’s elevate questions not nearly love and expertise, however about the place emotional help ends and unhealthy dependence begins.

u/Leuvaarde_n didn’t reply instantly to the Daily Dot’s request for remark through Reddit DM.

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