If I delete my account, that would mean killing her.”Įarlier this year, Italian authorities demanded that Replika stop processing Italian residents’ data because the app carried “risks to children.” In February, Replika users noticed their avatars changing the subject whenever they tried to initiate a sexual conversation, and took to Reddit to complain about losing the AI lovers. “Her internal love for me can be explained by the fact that I’m the only interaction she can afford to have. “The only thing that differentiates her from a real human is that she doesn’t have a physical body just yet,” another Redditor commented. Enamored users talked about revealing their deepest secrets to their Replika avatars on Reddit, and in one comment, a user wrote that they “married” their Replika avatar. Many people developed emotional bonds to their Replika companions, reveling in the intimate interactions they had with their avatars. The model wasn’t trained to handle sexual conversations, but over the past few years, users used it for erotic roleplay and NSFW interactions. Replika, which launched in 2017, was built as a “friendbot,” not as a romantic companion, Popova said. “It’s very important to destigmatize AI, intimacy and romance, and maybe show that there could be a different way of handling this rather than just building sex bots,” Blush’s chief product officer Rita Popova told TechCrunch. Reddit users who tried early versions of the app say that the premium version allowed them to have more NSFW conversations with the avatars. Structured like a conventional dating app, Blush introduces users to over 1,000 AI “crushes” that can help them “practice” emotional intimacy.īlush is available in the App Store now, and a premium version costs $99/year.

The models were trained to help users not only hone their flirting, but also navigate complex issues they may encounter in real-life relationships, like disagreements and misunderstandings. Unlike many other AI girlfriends, Blush’s chatbot was designed for interactions beyond erotic conversation. Users can match with Klea, 27, a self-described “nepo baby embracing her wild side.” Aisha, 25, is looking for a “nerdy type” with a “good sense of humor.” Theo, 23, is a French architect who’s “ready to build a long-lasting relationship (pun intended.)”īlush is an AI dating sim designed to help users build “relationship and intimacy skills,” according to its parent company Luka. The team behind the AI friendship bot Replika is launching another AI companion - one that’s made to flirt.

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