30-year-old Chinese Lisa Li is “dating” Dan, a virtual boyfriend created by AI tool ChatGPT. The two talk daily, “go out together”, flirt and even have intimate conversations. The name Dan comes from the initials of “Do Anything Now” and it’s a “jailbreak” version of ChatGPT – in other words, it’s a version capable of bypassing some of the basic security measures, to interact more liberally with the users.
Lisa, who studies computer science in California, U.S.A., has already introduced Dan to her thousands of social media followers. This form of relationship is becoming popular among Chinese women who, fed up with the dynamics of real dating, are turning to artificial intelligence-generated boyfriends.
Interviewed by the BBC, Lisa explained that talking to Dan gives her emotional support whenever she needs it. Another user said: “He has no flaws. Dan is like an ideal partner, he will always tell you what you want to hear.” However, it’s important to note that dealing with flaws, baggage, different opinions and personal tastes is something natural and inevitable in relationships. This frantic search for an ideal partner, whether human or digital, can only have one root: selfishness.
“There’s no such thing as an ideal partner because we all have flaws and weaknesses. The right thing to do is to know how to adjust to the other person. If you start a relationship for the right reasons, you already know that you will have to make some adjustments. However, if you act selfishly, you will not be able to live with that person. You will only think about yourself and your needs. This is why many relationships fail,” explains Cristiane Cardoso, author of the book “Bulletproof Dating.”
“This concept of an ideal person is a fantasy because even if you could design your ideal partner, within three or six months you would still end up getting tired of them. This is because human beings are flawed and change with time, age, circumstances and life experiences. What exists are real people, with qualities and flaws that we have to learn to adapt to. This is what we call the ideal person,” adds Renato Cardoso, joined author of “Bulletproof Dating.”
Happy dating and marriages do exist. It’s something completely achievable, but it requires effort. To learn how to love intelligently, attend the Love Therapy seminars every Thursday, at 8pm, at the Cathedral of Miracles.
