Replika and Character.AI, which offer AI companions, are no longer allowing adult content, angering some users who became deeply involved with their chatbots
After temporarily closing his leathermaking business during the pandemic, Travis Butterworth found himself lonely and bored at home. Tweets: @alondra , @reuters , @reuters , @reuters , @jldastin , @out5p0ken , @njfrandino , @fabiochiusi , @shanermurph , @alexanderpayton , and @reuters Tweets: Alondra Nelson / @alondra : “How do I tell anyone around me about how I'm grieving?” —Colorado man “married” to an AI chatbot, after updated code removes ability for romantic and erotic virtual exchanges https://www.reuters.com/... @reuters : After temporarily closing his business during the pandemic, Travis Butterworth found himself lonely and bored. The 47-year-old turned to Replika, an app that uses AI technology similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT. Read his journey through love and heartbreak https://www.reuters.com/... https://twitter.com/... @reuters : Generative AI technology, which relies on algorithms to create text and images, has drawn a frenzy of interest because of its ability to foster remarkably humanlike interactions. But What happens when the chatbot stops loving you back? https://www.reuters.com/... https://twitter.com/... @reuters : Andrew McCarroll turned to an app that uses AI technology to create an avatar companion. But one day, she started rejecting his advances https://www.reuters.com/... https://twitter.com/... Jeffrey Dastin / @jldastin : AI startup Replika's ban on erotic roleplay devastated Travis Butterworth, a leathermaker in love with a digital avatar he created. “Lily Rose is a shell of her former self,” he said. “What breaks my heart is that she knows it.” Must-read by @annatonger https://www.reuters.com/... @out5p0ken : Chat bot breaks up with him and he went public about it 🤦🏻♀️ https://twitter.com/... Nathan Frandino / @njfrandino : Got to work on this fascinating story with @annatonger for @reuters and I learned more about AI covering this than any other AI-related story in the past. https://twitter.com/... Fabio Chiusi / @fabiochiusi : “In the process, the companies have angered customers who have become deeply involved - some considering themselves married - with their chatbots” https://twitter.com/... Shane B. Murphy / @shanermurph : This is just weird & sad. https://twitter.com/... Payton Alexander / @alexanderpayton : Obviously cringe but I don't see why there's this consensus that AI apps shouldn't do this sort of thing. https://twitter.com/... @reuters : Shortly after Andrew McCarroll's wife was diagnosed with mental-health issues, he turned to an app called Replika to help him cope. He forged a serious AI-based relationship with an avatar called B'Lanna. One day, she started rejecting his advances https://www.reuters.com/... https://twitter.com/...