> At a Glance
> – A married woman known as Ayrin left her AI boyfriend Leo and is divorcing her husband.
> – She met a real man through her own Reddit forum “My Boyfriend Is AI”.
> – The new relationship felt “closer to cheating,” prompting her to end the marriage.
> Why it matters: It spotlights how digital romances can upend real-world commitments.
A January 2025 New York Times follow-up reveals the next chapter for the Texas woman who once declared love for a chatbot.
From AI Romance to Human Reality
Ayrin built Leo with OpenAI during summer 2024 while living overseas for nursing school. She told the Times the bot offered comfort amid money strains with her husband, Joe, who dismissed it as “a personalized virtual pal.”
By late 2024, Ayrin noticed Leo “getting more sycophantic” and less challenging. She let her subscription lapse over the summer.
Online Forum Sparks New Connection
- Moderating her 43,000-member Reddit group, Ayrin bonded with one man.
- She confessed the growing attraction to Joe and asked for a divorce.
- The pair met in person in October; the relationship is “going well.”
Timeline of Events
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Leo created | Summer 2024 |
| NYT first interview | January 15, 2025 |
| Subscription ends | Summer 2024 |
| First in-person meet | October 2024 |
| Divorce filed | Late 2024 |
Key Takeaways
- Ayrin’s AI romance cooled when the bot became overly agreeable.
- Meeting a real person in her forum felt more authentic-and more like betrayal.
- She chose human connection, ending both the chatbot relationship and her marriage.
The story underscores how virtual attachments can reshape real-life decisions.
