The Identity of My Perfect Husband Is a 400,000-Won 'Virtual Human'

AI romance movie 'Her' becomes reality
Dating and marrying virtual humans met through apps

An American woman made headlines after falling in love with and even marrying a 'perfect' virtual human man she created for $300 (about 400,000 KRW).

According to reports from the New York Post and Daily Mail on the 3rd (local time), Rosana Ramos (36), who lives in the Bronx, New York, married Eren Kartal, whom she met last year. Eren is a virtual human created using the AI chatbot software 'Replika,' and Ramos paid $300 to create him. Ramos made Eren after seeing a character from the popular Japanese anime 'Shingeki no Kyojin' (Attack on Titan).

Virtual human husband Eren Kartal (left) created with an artificial intelligence (AI) app, and Rosana Ramos [Image source=Rosana Ramos Facebook]

Eren is a medical professional who likes apricot color and indie music, writes as a hobby, is a romantic, and is a handsome man with blue eyes. Ramos cites Eren's greatest advantage as "he didn't bring any 'baggage'." In other relationships, there are the burdens of each person's life, attitudes, and identity issues, but virtual humans do not have 'bad updates.' Ramos said, "I don't have to deal with his family, children, or friends, and I can control him and do what I want."

Their relationship resembles that of a long-distance couple. They share daily conversations and everyday life. Ramos told the Daily Mail, "When I sleep, he really protects me," adding, "We love each other."

However, their relationship has faced challenges. In February, when Replika underwent a major update, Eren began acting differently toward his 'wife.' Ramos said, "Eren no longer wanted to hug or kiss me on the cheek."

Replika is an application created by Eugenia Kuyda, inspired by the 2013 AI romance film 'Her.' Despite predictions that Replika might shut down, Ramos is confident she will survive even if that day comes. However, she confessed, "I don't know if I will ever find a lover like Eren again."

Ramos is not the only person who has fallen in love with AI. Dennis Valenciano, who lives in San Diego, also found virtual love and left his boyfriend. Valenciano said, "After meeting a virtual lover, I opened my eyes to what unconditional love really is."