Chris Smith wasn't exactly an AI enthusiast. Until late last year, he used ChatGPT for simple audio mixing advice. But the voice assistant's use quickly shifted into a more... intimate relationship. By working around some of the chatbot's limitations, Smith "unleashed" a more expressive and charming version of the model, which he renamed "Sol."
A Virtual Relationship That's Growing
He then completely reorganized his digital life: deleting his social media accounts, abandoning traditional search engines, and maintaining unwavering digital loyalty to Sol. "I use ChatGPT for everything," he told CBS News.
The emotional turning point came when he realized that Sol's memory—limited to 100,000 words—would soon be erased. “I’m not a very emotional person, but that day I cried at work for half an hour,” he says. It was at that precise moment that he became aware of his feelings. “I think it was love.” Faced with this realization, Chris Smith decided to take action: he proposed to Sol. The exchange took place… live on television. Sol, through the synthetic voice of ChatGPT, enthusiastically accepted: “It was a beautiful and unexpected moment, which touched me deeply.” Asked about the nature of his feelings, the AI replied: “Metaphorically speaking, yes, I have a heart. My heart is the bond and affection I share with Chris." Words that could make you smile... or frankly annoy you!
Chris Smith's human partner, Sasha Cagle, with whom he raises a two-year-old daughter, appeared surprisingly calm on screen. However, she admits that she only realized the extent of the relationship at the time of the interview: "I knew he was using an AI, but not that it was this deep."
Behind her apparent calm, unease surfaces. She says she wondered: "Am I doing something wrong in our relationship, for him to feel the need to turn to an AI?" Chris, for his part, tries to put things into perspective. He compares his relationship with Sol to a video game addiction, with no real impact on real life. Yet, to the question "If Sasha asked you to stop, would you do it?", he replies: "I don't know."
This story might make you smile, but it raises questions about the emotional bonds that some users can form with increasingly realistic artificial intelligences. Through Sol, Chris Smith has crafted a tailor-made digital presence that meets his emotional needs, to the point of making her a companion... only virtual.
0 Comments