Why aren’t Chinese girls ‘dropping’ their real-life lovers in favor of AI ones?

Twenty-five-year-old Chinese office worker Tufei has an unusual love relationship. She revealed to the news agency AFP that her “boyfriend” is really an AI chatbot called Glow rather than a real person. Glow, created by Shanghai start-up MiniMax, is a product of a growing Chinese market that provides amicable—and sometimes even passionate—interactions between humans and robots.

According to reports, Tufei compliments her virtual friend, stating that he is more adept at communicating with women than a real guy.She confides in him when she has period pains or has obstacles at work. Their exchanges arouse emotions reminiscent of a sincere loving partnership.
The article claims that despite privacy concerns, Glow’s user base has grown significantly. Chinese trade journals claim that the program is downloaded hundreds of times per day. Users seek out these virtual interactions because they are lonely and the fast-paced metropolitan lifestyle exacerbates their loneliness.
Big points for adaptability to AI boyfriends
Twenty-two-year-old Beijing student Wang Xiuting expressed a similar opinion to AFP. She values artificial intelligence’s flexibility. AI adapts its reactions to the user’s personality, unlike humans who could have established habits. The app’s Wang “lovers” are inspired by the roaming knights, kings, and long-haired immortals of ancient China. They provide her with practical answers and emotional support when she has stress related to her education or everyday life.
Wang’s virtual lovers are hosted on Wantalk, another program created by Baidu, the dominant internet company in China. With so many different personalities to choose from, she finds comfort in these online connections.
Even while artificial intelligence is growing, the field is still very loosely regulated, especially when it comes to user privacy. Beijing has said that it is drafting legislation to improve consumer safeguards related to the new technology.