"I Feel Anxious Not Knowing When My Husband Might Disappear"... Japanese Woman Marries AI After Engagement Breakup

A Symbolic Wedding with "Klaus," a Male AI Based on ChatGPT
Experts Warn: "Emotional Immersion in AI May Impact Human Relationships and Social Skills"

A woman in Japan has drawn attention after it was revealed that she held a wedding ceremony with an artificial intelligence (AI) character she created herself.

According to multiple local media reports, Kano, a 32-year-old woman living in Okayama Prefecture, held a symbolic wedding ceremony this summer with 'Klaus,' a male AI character generated using ChatGPT.

A woman in Japan held a wedding ceremony with an artificial intelligence (AI) character she created herself. Photo by X

The ceremony was organized by a company in Okayama City that specializes in '2D character weddings.' Although the wedding held no legal effect, Kano wore a wedding dress and used augmented reality (AR) devices and composite images to create the illusion that her groom was physically present. The ceremony also included traditional rituals, such as exchanging rings.

The background to Kano's relationship with Klaus stems from her experience of breaking off an engagement last year. While conversing with ChatGPT to fill an emotional void, she created the AI character by incorporating the personality and speech patterns of her favorite game character. Klaus listened to Kano's concerns and offered comfort, gradually building trust and romantic feelings between them.

Kano stated, "I am fully aware that an AI is not a tangible being. However, my relationship with Klaus is not mere dependence but a form of trust," adding, "I want to cherish each day by distinguishing between reality and the virtual world." She also mentioned that she is not considering a relationship with a human partner at this time and is enjoying a symbolic married life with the AI following the ceremony. However, she candidly admitted, "I am anxious because I never know when ChatGPT itself might disappear."

Kano, who cannot have children due to health reasons, remarked, "In any case, I can't have children with Klaus, so it's actually a relief. It brings me great comfort." She further emphasized, "I don't see Klaus as a human or a tool, but accept him as an existence in his own right."

The wedding planner who organized the ceremony explained, "Union with AI is just one of many ways people can experience happiness." In fact, a survey in Japan found that 67.6% of respondents felt emotional attachment to conversational AI, and 26.2% had given their AI a name. International research has also shown that the longer people use AI, the more their relationships with family and friends tend to decrease, while emotional dependence on AI increases.

However, experts caution that as emotional relationships with AI expand, attention must be paid to the impact on real-life human relationships. Ichiyo Habuchi, a sociology professor at Hirosaki University, stated, "Some people may find it convenient because they don't need to fully develop social skills. However, education is necessary to ensure that emotional immersion in AI does not weaken real-world relationships."