tech
March 29, 2026
Grandmother (84) madly in love with AI character: 'I believe communication is the key to our relationship'
Zhang Julan (84) from Hubei Province, central China, fell in love with a virtual AI-generated 'dominant president', wrote him love letters, and spent up to 10 hours a day watching his videos.
TL;DR
- An 84-year-old woman named Zhang Julan became infatuated with an AI-generated 'dominant president' character.
- She spent up to 10 hours a day watching his videos and wrote him love letters, believing they were in a relationship.
- Her family discovered her spending over 7,000 yuan (approx. $1,000) on online stores and products related to the AI character.
- The AI character's account was reportedly shut down by Chinese authorities as part of a campaign against 'internet chaos'.
- Experts suggest such cases highlight cognitive decline in the elderly and their need for love and companionship, with AI becoming a tool for fraudsters.
- A professor noted that this phenomenon indicates a weakening of cognitive abilities in older individuals, making it difficult for them to distinguish between virtual and real people, and also points to their strong need for love, companionship, and respect.