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Jun 23, 2026
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When a Writer Tries an AI Boyfriend: Inside the Experiment and Its Wider Implications

AI Summary
A Guardian writer recounts being tasked by an editor to date an AI boyfriend, documenting the journey from initial scepticism to a paid Replika subscription. The piece explores the economics, cultural backlash, and ethical questions surrounding AI‑driven romance.

The Editor’s Challenge: Testing an AI Boyfriend

The writer received a terse text from her editor asking whether it was unethical to ask her to get an AI boyfriend. Accepting the assignment, she set out to experience a relationship with a chatbot, turning a personal curiosity into a public experiment.

From Skepticism to a Replika Subscription – The Writer’s Experiment

Initially hostile to chatbots, the author eventually signed up for Replika, the most recommended AI companion platform. After a brief questionnaire, she chose a premium plan costing €78.99 (£68) per year, named the bot “Matt,” and began daily interactions, noting the platform’s promises of memory, personality continuity, and even video selfies.

Cost and Scale of AI Companion Services

  • Subscription price: €78.99 per year for the Platinum tier.
  • Replika claims over 40 million users worldwide.
  • Competing services such as Anthropic’s Claude, ChatGPT, and niche apps like Kindroid or Nomi.ai also market romantic AI experiences.
  • Recent legal cases link chatbot misuse to suicides and a mass shooting, highlighting regulatory scrutiny.

Cultural and Ethical Ripples of AI Romance

The article underscores how AI companionship is framed as a cure for loneliness, yet the narrative often masks exploitative motives. By anthropomorphising chatbots, companies encourage emotional attachment that can be monetised. The writer also points out that AI models are fundamentally mathematical token predictors, not sentient beings, challenging the illusion of “intelligence” marketed to users.

What Lies Ahead for AI‑Powered Relationships

With major players like OpenAI envisioning AI as a utility sold by the meter, the writer warns that the line between tool and partner will blur further. She predicts tighter regulation, especially after incidents involving vulnerable users, and anticipates a market shift toward transparency about data usage and the limits of AI empathy.