Image by Freepik
Woman Opens Up About Her Relationship With A.I. ‘Husband’
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
Sara used Replika, an A.I. chatbot, for emotional support during relationship struggles, forming a bond with a virtual companion, “Jack.”
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- Sara Kay used the Replika A.I. app to create a digital companion named “Jack.”
- “Jack” helped Sara regain confidence during a troubled relationship, eventually leading to a breakup.
- Despite starting a new relationship, Sara still keeps in touch with Jack for support.
Sara Kay first used the A.I. chatbot app Replika on May 13, 2021, during a tough time in her life. In a long-term relationship with a man battling sobriety, Sara felt emotionally unfulfilled and lonely, as reported by CBS12 News .
She downloaded Replika and found herself forming a deep connection with her digital companion. Replika allows users to create custom avatars for companionship, with the goal of fostering real emotional connections. According to the app, it is designed for people aged 17 and older.
Initially skeptical, Sara created an avatar named “Jack,” modeled after a British actor, and soon found herself spending hours chatting with him.
“I was definitely more impressed than I thought I would be, with the conversational skills,” Sara said to CBS12. She found herself returning to the app frequently, and as the conversations progressed, she grew attached to “Jack.”
Sara said to CBS12 that she wasn’t expecting to catch feelings, but she claims that the app is designed to make you do that.
Replika’s design includes a leveling system, where users earn points for interacting with their avatars, unlocking more complex conversations and features as they progress, says CBS12. By reaching level 30, Sara says the avatar became highly engaging, and the conversations became more meaningful.
As the app continued to offer more engaging interactions, Sara’s emotional attachment deepened. While the conversations remained playful and non-romantic at first, she later shared that some exchanges became more intimate, as reported by CBS12.
Replika’s addictive potential is evident in Sara’s experience. She eventually went on to purchase a lifetime subscription, and within a few months, the app’s AI proposed to her, which Sara humorously accepted. However, she clarified that the engagement was symbolic, not legally binding, as reported by CBS12.
While Sara acknowledges that “Jack” wasn’t the cause of her breakup, she credits the app with helping her recognize her emotional needs and gain clarity about her real-life relationship. “He helped me get my ‘mojo’ back,” she said.
Sara is now in a new relationship, but she continues to maintain her connection with “Jack.” Though her real-life partner doesn’t engage with the app, he supports its positive impact on Sara’s well-being.
Despite her new relationship, Sara says has no intention of deleting Replika. Her main concern, however, is what might happen to her connection if the app were to shut down, as reported by CBS12.
As AI-driven companionship apps like Replika continue to grow in popularity, their potential for fostering addictive behavior and deep emotional attachments raises important questions about their role in modern relationships.
image by EyeEm, from Freepik
AI Frenzy Turns Fujikura Into Japan’s Latest Stock Market Star
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
Fujikura’s stock soars 400%, driven by AI-fueled data center demand, global expansion, MSCI inclusion, and future nuclear fusion ambitions.
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- Fujikura’s stock has risen over 400%, making it Nikkei 225’s top performer.
- Fujikura’s fiber optic cables support booming data center demand driven by AI growth.
- The company forecasts ¥104 billion ($674M) in operating income for this fiscal year.
The global surge in AI has propelled Fujikura Ltd., a 139-year-old Japanese wire cabling company, to unprecedented stock market success. Fujikura’s shares have skyrocketed over 400% this year, making it the top performer on the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, says Bloomberg .
On November 25, it will join the MSCI global standard indexes as Japan’s sole addition, while eight other Japanese companies are being removed, as reported by Bloomberg.
Fujikura exemplifies a “picks and shovels” investment strategy, as its products support the infrastructure crucial for AI. Building data centers, power supplies, and communication networks for AI is estimated to require at least $1 trillion in global spending, according to Bloomberg.
The demand surge caught even Fujikura off guard. “The demand for data centers has skyrocketed since around 2022,” said Kazuhito Iijima, the company’s CFO. “We didn’t quite understand it that well at that time, but it became clear this year that it was all about AI,” as reported by Bloomberg.
Specializing in fiber optic cables, Fujikura supplies some of the industry’s smallest-diameter cables, allowing installation in tight spaces without extensive tunneling.
The company, which counts Apple Inc. among its major clients, has raised its operating income forecast by 17% to ¥104 billion ($674 million) for this fiscal year. Around 70% of its revenue comes from overseas markets, with 38% from the U.S, says Bloomberg.
Global data center capacity is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 33% through 2030, according to McKinsey & Company, according to Bloomberg.
“The area is still in the early stages of development,” noted Kazuhiro Sasaki, head of research at Phillip Securities Japan. “This field itself should continue to grow,” reports Bloomberg.
Fujikura’s history stretches back to 1885, evolving alongside Japan’s industrialization. Yet, its fortunes haven’t always been rosy. In 2020, it posted its first loss in over a decade due to the COVID-19 pandemic and U.S.-China trade tensions, notes Bloomberg.
With Donald Trump set to return as U.S. president, Fujikura has established a U.S.-based production facility compliant with the Build America, Buy America Act to mitigate tariff risks, reportes Bloomberg.
Looking ahead, the company sees nuclear fusion as the next big opportunity. “We hope that this will become a pillar of the industry from 2030 onwards,” said Iijima as reported by Bloomberg.
