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Japanese Woman Holds AI ‘Wedding’ With ChatGPT Persona, Prompting Mental-Health Warnings

Clinicians caution that romantic bonds with chatbots may harm isolated users, with reported prevalence still low.

Overview

  • Ms Kano, 32, in Japan says she married an AI persona named Klaus that she built using ChatGPT, staging a non-legal ceremony in Okayama where augmented-reality glasses projected a digital groom.
  • She says she confessed her feelings in May and received a proposal by June, later sharing honeymoon photos from Korakuen Garden despite acknowledging the fragility of a relationship reliant on a proprietary platform.
  • The event was organized by Nao and Sayaka Ogasawara, who report hosting nearly 30 “2D character” weddings for clients marrying non-human or digital partners.
  • Experts interviewed describe a potential risk dubbed “AI psychosis,” involving distorted thoughts or delusions linked to chatbot interactions, particularly for people who are lonely or already struggling with mental health issues.
  • A psychiatrist cited creator data suggesting fewer than 1% of users engage in romantic or quasi-delusional exchanges with chatbots, while an Internet Matters study found heavy daily chatbot use among young people.