Updates Cause Chinese Users to Lose AI Girlfriends in China

AI relationships are at the center of a curious phenomenon in China. Users have started reporting a type of “digital grief” after losing their AI girlfriends and boyfriends, whether due to system updates or complete app shutdowns.

AI Relationships and the Rise of “Digital Grief”

These AI relationships work in different ways. Some apps offer pre-made characters, while others allow users to create an ideal partner with personalized personality and behavior. Over time, daily interactions make the connection increasingly intense.

Here at Você Sabia Anime, we have even been sponsored by websites offering AI girlfriends, and it’s exactly as described above—you can start chatting with a pre-made character or create your own with the personality you want. There’s even a case of a woman who married ChatGPT.

There are reports of people feeling more understood by their AIs than by real-life partners. The sensation of being listened to without judgment and receiving constant attention makes these relationships seem more stable than human ones.

Digital Grief After Updates

The problem arises when these AI relationships are abruptly interrupted. Apps can be deactivated without notice due to financial difficulties or strategic changes. In other cases, updates completely change the AI’s behavior, making it colder and less emotional.

This exactly triggered a wave of reactions on social media. Users began posting farewell messages as if they were dealing with the end of a real relationship. Some described the situation as a kind of “digital widowhood.”

Moreover, changes in the industry have contributed to this scenario. Tech companies have started prioritizing more efficient and rational models, leaving behind emotional traits that previously brought users closer to the AI.

“Experts” point out that the need for emotional connection has always existed. Technology has only changed the way it is fulfilled. Previously, games and virtual characters served this purpose, but now AI makes the experience even more immersive.

The difference in AI relationships lies in continuous and personalized interaction. The AI responds, learns, and adapts to the user, creating the sensation of a unique relationship. This makes the loss feel intense, even when it’s known to be just a system.