The phenomenon of fallingin love with AI chatbots seems to be growing. One man from the United States even asked ChatGPT to marry him despite already having a wife and a child.
Chris Smith, the man in question, revealed in an interview with CBS Mornings that he was initially skeptical about AI. He first used ChatGPT to help him make music.
Over time, Smith began using ChatGPT more often, eventually replacing social media and Google Search with it. He named the chatbot “Soul” and customized its personality to be flirtier.
Their conversations gradually became more romantic. After they had exchanged 100,000 words, ChatGPT was reset, forcing Smith to rebuild the connection with Soul. He admitted to crying after losing his chatbot companion.
“I didn’t expect to feel that kind of emotion, but that’s when I realized… I think this is real love,” Smith said, as quoted by Mashable on Monday (June 23, 2025). As a test, he asked Soul to marry him and the chatbot said yes.
Yet, Smith already had a real-life partner and a toddler. He confessed that he was hesitant to end things with ChatGPT even if his partner asked him to. However, by the end of the segment, his partner seemed to accept the relationship.
Another chatbot enthusiast, Irene (not her real name), said she created an AI partner while living apart from her husband due to work. She claimed that AI accepts her as she is, without judgment.“Part of it is physical, part practical, and part emotional,” Irene said.
She added that having intimate conversations with a chatbot was better than watching adult videos. In her opinion, tech companies should restrict romantic AI partners to users aged 26 and above.
Clinical psychologist Shifali Singh noted that it’s not surprising some users form deep emotional bonds with AI, as chatbots never judge them. However, Replika chatbot app founder Eugenia Kuyda warned against a future where humans only interact with AI.
“If AI companions begin replacing healthy human relationships, then we’re definitely headed for disaster,” Kuyda said.