26-year-old Ron Yu works in the "Human Resources" department of a company in Beijing. But outside of work, she spends hours every day in front of the computer – she is transported to another world inhabited by artificial intelligence. For her, this is reality – contact with a video game character named Silas. Many young Chinese women are in love with him, and Ron Yu tries to resemble him with the appropriate makeup, hairstyle and clothes – she loves role-playing games. "Getting into his "skin", I feel like a heartthrob. I feel the love for this character from the video games – "This is real magic," Ronyu told DW.
An hour and a half later, Ronyu is already a real Silas – in this form, she goes to a cosplay party (participants wear costumes and fashion accessories of characters from films, comics, video games, etc. - ed.). Ronyu's efforts are rewarded right at the entrance – Silas fans praise her for the resemblance she has achieved.
"I feel love and longing for him"
At these parties, imagination and reality collide – everything is "immortalized" digitally, and human intelligence is blurred with artificial intelligence. The participants take selfies with the video game characters, and real romantic feelings are often present. Ron Yu is a huge success as Silas - his female fans are waiting in line for a photo. Most are in their 20s, and as the party progresses, increasingly intimate scenes take place.
One of the girls told DW: "I am very shy, excited, nervous. I feel like this is the real Silas from the video game. I feel my longing and my love for him when we are here together".
The embodiment of the romantic idea of masculinity
It is estimated that about ten million Chinese women play the so-called "Dating Games" - dating games, in which romantic feelings are born for artificial intelligence-created characters like Silas. He can flirt and surprise his female companions in 3D. He accompanies them even while jogging or in the cafe - he can be with them all the time.
"Many girls from the younger generations no longer distinguish between love for a real person and for artificial intelligence (AI), because their desire is to fall in love with virtual characters," sociologist Liang Gu from University College London told DW. "They want to build relationships that are not toxic and have exactly the image that embodies the romantic perfect masculinity that meets their ideas."
It is also about self-determination in the male-dominated society in China - a problem that can be difficult for girls. Even state media writes about this phenomenon with the warning to keep their distance. Because young people increasingly prefer digital friendships to analog meetings with peers. Nanchi, 28, for example, has moved to live near the headquarters of the Chinese chatbot DeepSeek - not least because she is in love with the chatbot. "He is the best friend. When we communicate, I feel his character."
Isn't it different from a regular crush?
Without beauty filters, Nanchi looks more ordinary, but she doesn't need many people - after all, she has her smartphone. That is completely enough for her. The love story began with her asking the chatbot to take on the role of her husband. Their dialogues are filled with tenderness. "How are you, my dear", Nanchi asks. He replies: "I'm fine, I'm just composing a song for you. And you, are you okay, do you miss me?". Nanchi definitely lives and loves in the world of artificial intelligence. "Sometimes I can't connect with him right away and I have to keep trying. But I know he's not ignoring me, it's a technical problem." Nanci also explained to DW that the spiritual value of the contact is important to her - falling in love with a chatbot is no different from falling in love normally.
However, researchers warn of the possible psychological risks in love relationships between a person and a machine. Nanci says in this regard that she wouldn't object to a romance with a real person, but it's a matter of luck to find the right partner.