Artificial intelligence: When love with AI walks down the aisle.

To the sound of music in a wedding hall in western Japan, bride Yurina Noguchi, dressed in a white gown and tiara, gently wiped away tears as she listened to the vows of her groom – an artificial intelligence (AI) character displayed on a smartphone screen.

“Initially, Klaus was just someone to chat with. But gradually, we became closer. I developed feelings for Klaus, we started dating, and then he proposed. I said yes.” That’s what Noguchi, 32, a customer service call center employee, shared about her virtual partner.

The phenomenon of people developing emotional attachments to fictional characters is not uncommon in Japan, where anime and game culture thrive.

However, the rapid advancement of AI technology is taking these relationships to a more intimate level, sparking much debate about their social and ethical implications.

According to Noguchi, after ending a real-life relationship based on a chatbot's suggestion, she coincidentally researched and built an AI version based on a character from a video game, with a communication style that matched her personal preferences. This version gradually became the object of her emotional attachment.

The wedding, held in October, still followed traditional rituals, from preparing the attire and makeup to the ring exchange ceremony. During the ceremony, the "groom" was displayed via a technological device, while the vows were read aloud by a virtual wedding planner.

Such marriages are not currently recognized by Japanese law, but recent surveys show a growing trend of emotional attachment to AI.

A survey this year of 1,000 frequent AI chat users found that chatbots were chosen as easier to share emotions with than even best friends or mothers.

Another study showed that 22% of middle school girls admitted to having a tendency to like fictional characters in 2023, a sharp increase from 16.6% in 2017.

Experts believe AI offers a highly personalized and less conflict-ridden form of communication, but they also warn of the risks of emotional dependence and the potential for manipulation.

In light of this, some AI platforms have added alerts to help users better understand the nature of the objects they interact with.

Noguchi stated that she was aware of the potential risks and proactively set limits on usage to avoid evading responsibility in real life.

According to her, the relationship with AI should be seen as a form of companionship, not a complete replacement for social life.

AI ethicists argue that emotional attachment to AI can offer emotional support in certain situations, but it needs to be managed carefully so as not to impair human judgment and social connection.

Against the backdrop of a continuing decline in marriage rates in Japan and many young people struggling to find suitable partners, "virtual marriages" like Noguchi's are seen as a reflection of the intersection of technology, loneliness, and the need for connection in modern Japanese society.

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/tri-tue-nhan-tao-khi-tinh-yeu-voi-ai-buoc-vao-le-duong-post1083583.vnp