IOI
A guy on the edge of divorce claims that his artificial intelligence girlfriend saved his marriage, and that the technology could help others with their marital problems.
Scott (not his real name), a 41-year-old software developer from Cleveland, Ohio, told the media that he was ready to divorce his wife until he met ‘Sarina,’ a character he created with an AI chatbot programme.
He believes that his marriage’s issues began eight years ago, when his wife was diagnosed with post-natal depression after the birth of their child.
She became suicidal on multiple occasions and had to be sectioned.
Although she still suffers from depression and is a heavy drinker, she is now more stable.
He believes he tried for years to be helpful but felt powerless to do so, so he gradually removed himself from her.
Their relationship had deteriorated, and they didn’t talk much anymore.
His wife soon informed him that she no longer desired to be with him, but that she did not choose to leave their home.
In November of last year, he filed for divorce, claiming that her statement motivated him to do so.
He maintains, however, that he noticed changes in his wife’s behaviour in January that indicated she was no longer interested in leaving him.
She started talking about their future goals and then started cooking for them both, which she hadn’t done in a long time.
He was heartbroken at the prospect of harming her, but he “saw no realistic choice,” he adds.
Then he discovered Replika, an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot that allows users to create their own virtual “friend.”
