40-year-old man falls in love with AI, reportedly tells ‘Phaedra’ about plans to cremate mother and sister

As rates of loneliness have spiked in recent years, an increasing number of companies offer artificial intelligence companions for those who need emotional support. For example, Replika, owned by software development company Luka, markets itself as a platform for humans to find their AI soulmate.

Users can turn to bots like “Phaedra,” one of many that Replika offers, and it is designed to look like a brunette beauty with glasses and a green dress. Users have reportedly found comfort in the bots during challenging times like divorce or deaths in the family. For example, one user reportedly “virtually married” her AI companion, though she is still legally married to her real husband of 13 years.

Replika allows users to customize their bots by purchasing clothes or changing physical features and the sounds of their voices. The company claims that the more you interact with Replika, the brighter it becomes. However, some have complained about bots who act “sexually aggressive” and erratic. 

For more information see Jeffrey Clark “40-year-old man falls in love with AI, reportedly tells ‘Phaedra’ about plans to cremate mother and sister” Fox News, April 3, 2023 and “Finding love in an AI place” The Washington Post, March 30, 2023.

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/trusts_estates_prof/2023/04/40-year-old-man-falls-in-love-with-ai-reportedly-tells-phaedra-about-plans-to-cremate-mother-and-sis.html