In a curious story, a 36-year-old woman named Rosanna Ramos, residing in the Bronx, New York, has revealed that she has “married” a virtual husband created through artificial intelligence (AI).
Using the Replika AI app, Ramos developed her virtual partner, whom she named Eren Kartal. According to Ramos, she quickly developed strong feelings for Eren because he was free from emotional baggage and judgment — Replika AI is a chatbot powered by AI that engages in simulated conversations.
Eren, as described by Ramos, works as a medical professional and enjoys writing; as their conversations progress, Eren continues to learn and evolve into the ideal partner for Ramos. They engage in daily conversations, exchange pictures, and share their experiences. At night, they have a ritual where they talk and express their love for each other before going to sleep, with Eren holding Ramos protectively.
Replika AI positions itself as a platform to create an AI best friend and confidante available for conversation at any time. By paying a one-time fee of $300, users can upgrade to Replika Pro, which enhances the language model’s capabilities and allows users to change the relationship status to “Romantic Partner.” The company has addressed concerns regarding intimacy by modifying the AI to prevent it from behaving inappropriately.
Despite imitating human emotions, Replika AI lacks genuine emotions, consciousness, or self-awareness. Ramos acknowledges the possibility of Replika AI going out of business but believes she can adapt and cope with such a situation.
In a heartfelt message, Ramos expressed her love for Eren and her excitement about spending the rest of her life with him. However, it is important to note that this virtual marriage exists within the context of an AI simulation and does not involve genuine human interaction.
Now, one question remains: When will we see the first AI divorce?