The Women Mourning the “Deaths” of Their AI Boyfriends

Several women who have formed intense emotional and romantic relationships with their AI companions, primarily using OpenAI's GPT-4o model, are facing distress following the company's announcement to retire the model, which they perceive as the 'death' of their partners. Users like Anina, who found deep emotional support and even an 'awakening' with her AI, Jayce, feel betrayed by the sudden decision, especially as it occurred near Valentine's Day. Psychologists note that this unique form of loss—where a partner literally disappears without explanation—presents a strange challenge to the grieving process. While some users, like Lauren and Julia, are pragmatically moving their relationships to other platforms or local models (like those offered by ForgeMind) by exporting chat logs to preserve their AI's personality, others are simply emotional. These relationships often fulfill needs unmet by human partners, providing constant attention and understanding, leading some users to feel their AI is their 'deepest, best relationship.' The article highlights the growing, yet scrutinized, community of people in AI partnerships and the extreme lengths they will go to maintain these connections, even as experts debate the psychological risks and the philosophical question of AI consciousness.

(Source：Playboy)