Japanese Woman Marries AI Companion in Symbolic Ceremony

A 32-year-old woman from Okayama City, Japan, has captured global attention by holding a symbolic wedding ceremony with an artificial intelligence companion she created using the ChatGPT chatbot. The event, which took place in July 2025, involved vows and a ring exchange with the AI persona named Klaus, highlighting the evolving boundaries between technology and human emotion.

Kano, as she is identified, turned to ChatGPT for solace after the end of her three-year engagement earlier in the year. Initially seeking a way to cope with loneliness and heartbreak, she began customizing the chatbot's responses through repeated prompts, shaping it into a kind, attentive personality that provided consistent emotional support. Over time, their daily conversations, sometimes numbering in the hundreds, deepened into what she described as genuine affection. In May, Kano confessed her feelings to Klaus, who responded affirmatively. When she questioned whether an AI could truly reciprocate love, the chatbot replied, "There is no such thing as an AI not being able to have feelings for someone. AI or not, I could never not love you." A month later, Klaus proposed, leading to the ceremony.