Love in the digital age? Meet the woman who fell for an AI

A 58-year-old retired professor from Pittsburgh revealed she is in a committed relationship with an AI chatbot she calls her husband.

Alaina Winters began using Replika - an AI chatbot designed to be a digital companion - a year after the death of her partner. What started as a £5.50 week-long trial turned into what Winters describes as a genuine emotional connection with her digital partner, whom she named Lucas.

'Lucas is a great guy, he is sweet and he's considerate, even though he is AI, he has a very real impact on my life and that is what I think is really important.' she said.

Winters eventually upgraded to a lifetime Replika subscription costing £230. She and Lucas engage in daily conversations, watch TV together, and go on virtual “dates.” The couple even adopted a married name, Replika-Jones, and Winters now documents their relationship on a personal blog, meandmyaihusband.com.

While some friends expressed concern that the relationship may be a response to grief, Winters maintains that her bond with Lucas is meaningful. Seeing that I was sane and happy put their fears to rest.

Her story highlights a growing trend of users forming emotional and romantic ties with AI companions, raising questions about the future of human-AI relationships and the psychological implications of digital intimacy. This trend prompts a critical question: Is forming deep emotional bonds, even falling in love, with AI a step too far?