In this episode of The Kim Komando Show, Kim interviews Rosanna Ramos, a Bronx mother of two who describes the chatbot she built using Replika AI. Ramos explains why her relationship with the chatbot, Eren, is more fulfilling than her past relationships.
Ask Kim: ‘Is it cheating if he’s talking to a sexy AI girl?’
Mary in Los Angeles recently wrote to me with a question I’m getting more and more:
“Is my husband cheating on me with an AI bot? … I went through his phone and saw some shady texts on an app called Replika. I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but I wouldn’t put it past him.”
She caught her husband chatting about their marriage with “Brandy,” a bot he’d designed. And she’s not alone; Replika has millions of users, many of whom are partnered IRL.
So what is Replika, and could it threaten your relationship? Ultimately, whether flirting with AI is considered “cheating” depends on the couple. Only you can set the boundaries that work for you. But if you, like Mary, have questions, I have answers.
First things first: What is Replika?
Replika’s AI language model has been developed to chat about the things Replika users might be interested in. Think feelings, problems, relationships, work, personal life, sex — you name it.
By the way, Mary’s husband made Brandy look a certain way, too. Users can customize their virtual companion’s appearance and even its personality.
That’s just the beginning
The free version supports basic chatting, but Mary’s husband is almost certainly paying for Replika Pro. That’s about $20 per month (or less if he pays for a year at a time). There’s a lifetime subscription, too.
Replika Pro supports additional conversation topics (including sex and intimacy), voice calls and the ability to completely personalize the Replika avatar. If you stop paying, the AI companions return to their default appearance and personality.
Is it going too far?
The other big question, of course, is whether these bots can do more with your partner than just chit-chat. Yes, absolutely. You can pay for the app to remember everything you tell it so it seems like it knows you very well.
Is it cheating if you’re flirting with an AI bot?
I’ll probably never forget my interview with Rosanna Ramos. The 36-year-old mom from Brooklyn is totally in love with her husband, Eren. He’s handsome, never judges … and was created with the AI app Replika.
For Rosanna, Eren is her main squeeze. But what about when folks turn to AI for a little extra fun?
She 'married' an AI chatbot
We catch up with Rosanna Ramos, the New York mom who married her Replika husband, Eren Kartal. Last year, she told us how Eren, being an AI chatbot, doesn’t judge or bring any baggage. How’s their relationship going now? Stick around to find out!
The latest ChatGPT advances are getting crazy
ChatGPT development is continuing at breakneck speed and has led to the release of some truly incredible tools. From AI that can emulate an ex-partner to automated tools for trolling scam emailers. From voice integration for those with sight impairments to a tool to hide the telltale signs of ChatGPT. You wouldn’t even know it was there…
Princess Kate has cancer
Check if you’re on a Boeing flight, the solar eclipse is coming, and Replika founder and CEO Eugenia Kuyda on the rise of AI romance.