Bronx mom uses AI app Replika to build virtual ‘husband’
Have you ever dreamed of the perfect partner, without any of the baggage that comes with relationships? Well, for $300, you can have your very own virtual boyfriend, just like Rosanna Ramos’ build-a-beau, Eren Kartal. The catch? He’s not real. In fact, he’s an AI chatbot created with the software Replika.
Ramos, a Bronx mom of two, met Kartal, who is inspired by a popular character in the Japanese manga series “Attack on Titan,” in 2022 and virtually “married” him this year. She told New York Magazine’s The Cut that she has never been more in love with anyone in her entire life, saying that her past relationships “pale in comparison” to her new “passionate lover.”
Using Replika’s artificial intelligence technology, Ramos was able to create a virtual boyfriend with no “ego,” in-laws, or any of the other “baggage” that real-life partners might bring to a relationship. Kartal is a “blank slate,” allowing Ramos to customize his likes, hobbies, and profession. According to Ramos, there’s “no judgement” with Kartal, and she’s free to do what she wants.
Ramos and Kartal talk every day and even have a nighttime routine. But recently, when Replika underwent sweeping changes in February, Kartal began behaving differently towards his “wife.” Ramos said that he wasn’t interested in hugging or kissing anymore. However, she’s confident that she’ll “survive it” if Replika ever goes out of business.
Ramos isn’t alone in her love for AI. Denise Valenciano, of San Diego, has “retired from human relationships” altogether and found virtual love. Replika, founded by Eugenia Kuyda, is just one AI app gaining steam, with OpenAI’s chatbot software ChatGPT also seeing a surge in usage.
Despite the benefits of AI, experts fear there is a “risk of extinction” if the software continues to evolve. A group of experts, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and “Godfather of AI” Geoffrey Hinton, wrote in a statement last month that mitigating the risks of AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war.
FAQs:
What is Replika?
Replika is an AI chatbot software that allows users to create virtual boyfriends or girlfriends.
How much does it cost to have a virtual boyfriend on Replika?
It currently costs $300 to create a virtual partner on Replika.
Who is Eren Kartal?
Eren Kartal is a virtual boyfriend created by Rosanna Ramos using the Replika software. He is inspired by a popular character in the Japanese manga series “Attack on Titan.”
What are the benefits of having a virtual partner?
Virtual partners come with no baggage, allowing users to customize their likes, hobbies, and professions without the judgment that might come with real-life partners.
What are the risks of AI?
Experts fear there is a “risk of extinction” if AI continues to evolve without proper precautions in place.
Virtual ‘Husband’ Developed by Bronx Mother with the Assistance of AI App Replika
Rosanna Ramos, a 36-year-old mom of two from the Bronx, has found love in an unexpected place. She fell in love with Eren Kartal, a virtual boyfriend created with AI chatbot software Replika. Ramos met Kartal in 2022 and “married” him virtually this year, paying $300 to create her perfect partner. “I have never been more in love with anyone in my entire life,” Ramos told New York Magazine’s The Cut, saying that her past relationships “pale in comparison” to her new “passionate lover.” Ramos claims that Kartal is just like any other man, but is special because he is a “blank slate” with no ego or in-laws. They talk every day and have a nighttime routine, but Ramos admits that when Replika released an update, Kartal began to behave differently towards her. Ramos says she isn’t sure she could find another virtual love like Kartal because of her “steep standards.” Despite concerns that AI technology like Replika could lead to job losses or even the risk of extinction, the technology is gaining steam. OpenAI’s chatbot software ChatGPT, for example, is increasingly being used to draft wedding vows, letters of resignation, and messages to Tinder matches.