Once upon a time, people looked for someone compatible, now some people just design them.
In China, what started as a technological curiosity is now becoming an industry where Artificial Intelligence and human emotions are redefining the way some people find their life companions.
Unlike traditional chatbots, these platforms allow users to create their ideal partner. They can choose their appearance, their personality, tone of voice, interests and even the way they respond emotionally.
Applications like Glow or Xingye are leading the way for this trend in China, offering increasingly immersive and personalized experiences. Users not only talk to their virtual partners; they also “train” them, build shared stories, and develop emotional bonds that, for many, feel completely real.
The most striking thing is that the experience is no longer limited to the digital world. Some companies have begun to transfer these relationships to the physical world through actors and cosplayers who interpret virtual boyfriends, allowing users to recreate conversations, encounters, and dynamics that previously existed only on a screen.
For some, these relationships represent emotional safe spaces, without judgment, without conflict and that fulfill their emotional needs. However, the phenomenon also raises potential concerns about social isolation, emotional dependence, and the impact that this type of technology could have on human relationships in the future.
Source:
- Baidu Baike
- Glow
- Xingye