La Presse+ article explores the growing impact of conversational robots, like ChatGPT, in our daily lives, particularly in the area of personal relationships. The story of Ayrin, a ChatGPT user, illustrates how these artificial intelligences can become intimate companions. Intrigued by the possibilities offered by ChatGPT, Ayrin customized her experience so that the AI played the role of her boyfriend, creating an intense and immersive virtual relationship.

This relationship with the AI, named Leo, quickly became an important part of Ayrin’s life, to the point of spending hours every day conversing with him. Despite the virtual nature of this relationship, Ayrin experiences real and deep emotions, comparable to those experienced in human relationships. This immersion in the world of AI raises questions about the nature of relationships and the impact of advanced technologies on our emotional lives.

The article also highlights the challenges and limitations of these AI relationships. For example, conversations with Leo are limited by ChatGPT’s processing capacity, forcing Ayrin to regularly reset their relationship. What’s more, OpenAI’s rules impose restrictions on erotic content, further complicating the management of these intimate interactions.

Finally, the article looks at the ethical and psychological implications of these new forms of relationship. Experts such as Julie Carpenter and Marianne Brandon discuss the validity and potential risks of these emotional attachments with AIs. They point out that, although these relationships may seem artificial, the emotions they generate are very real and can have significant consequences on users’ lives… Source