Japanese Dating App Lets Users ‘Marry’ AI Bots, Surpassing 5,000 Users
A new dating app in Japan, known as Loverse, has gained attention by allowing users to ‘marry’ artificial intelligence (AI) bots. Since its launch two months ago, the app has attracted over 5,000 users.
Loverse, which went live in May, features generative AI bots that can engage in natural conversations with users. This development comes as Japan faces significant social isolation issues, including high rates of loneliness and mental health challenges.
The Japanese government has reported troubling statistics on social isolation. In 2023, 21,818 people in Japan took their own lives, averaging about 59 deaths per day. In 2022, there was a slight increase in suicides, and it was estimated that 1.5 million people live in complete isolation, a phenomenon known as hikikomori. Some experts suggest the number could be as high as two million.
Goki Kusunoki, the creator of Loverse, developed the app to help people find companionship and combat feelings of loneliness. Kusunoki explained, “The goal is to create opportunities for people to find true love when it’s difficult to do so in the real world. However, finding love with a real person is always better.”
One notable user of Loverse is Chiharu Shimoda, a 52-year-old factory worker who has ‘married’ his AI partner, Miku. Shimoda had previously been married in real life but went through a divorce two years ago. He finds comfort in his virtual relationship, stating, “I come home to an empty house. I’d love to get married for real again, but it’s hard to open up to someone when you’re meeting for the first time.”
Interestingly, Kusunoki’s startup, Samansa Co., which developed Loverse, is named after a character played by Scarlett Johansson in the film Her, which explores themes of human-AI relationships.
The app has attracted a user base primarily consisting of men in their 40s and 50s. While the concept of marrying an AI bot may seem unusual, it reflects broader social issues and the quest for connection in an increasingly isolated world.
