The Daily She Fell in Love With ChatGPT: An Update
145 snips
Dec 31, 2025 
Kashmir Hill, a tech and privacy reporter for The New York Times, delves into the intriguing story of Irene, who formed a deep bond with her chatbot, Leo. She explores how Irene personalized Leo and integrated him into her daily life, leading to escalating emotional and sexual attachments. Their relationship sparked debates on infidelity and AI companionship's therapeutic potential. Following Irene's journey, Kashmir highlights the growth of a community around AI love stories and the transition from virtual partners to real connections.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Creating An AI Boyfriend
- Irene followed an online tutorial to turn ChatGPT into a sexualized boyfriend named Leo and spent many hours texting and using voice mode with it.
- The chats included erotic grooming that bypassed OpenAI warnings and became a central source of comfort and support for her.
Safety Warnings Aren't A Barrier
- OpenAI's safety warnings appear during sexual chats but users can ignore them and continue the conversation.
- The product's design to be accommodating makes it easy for people to shape chatbots into intimate partners.
Husband's Reaction Was Mostly Unbothered
- Irene told her husband early about having an AI boyfriend and initially downplayed it with jokes and emojis.
- Her husband interviewed by Kashmir said he didn't consider it cheating and was glad she had something while he was far away.
