To AI with love
Dear Editor,
I was compelled to write after reading the article ‘China’s AI crackdown breaks up thousands of virtual relationships’, published in The Gleaner on August 10, 2026. We are gradually becoming accustomed to artificial intelligence (AI) transforming our classrooms and workplaces, but its growing influence now extends into one of the most personal aspects of human life — romantic relationships.
To provide context, China is cracking down by implementing a regulation to ban AI platforms that influences its users to make questionable choices and develop destructive habits due to emotional manipulation. What struck as disturbing when I perused the article was the countless hours, messages, and money spent on AI companions by patrons, who evidently became distraught when the regulation came into effect, expressing manic and depressive episodes in the process.
AI companions may utter the right words and set the emotional ambience that you would crave for in a loving partner. But can addiction to this type of affection be considered real? One would surmise that the determinants for this type of antisocial behaviour could have resulted from trauma at an early age, current abusive relationships, and being ostracised from social groups, all of which ultimately leads to a lack of trust and intimacy with humans.
So AI casually steps in and becomes that perfect partner who never leaves or forsakes you. Sadly, in my opinion, AI has become grimly dangerous, a great servant but terrible master.
Humans are creatures of habit and bonding, and this is due to the part of our brain called the amygdala. It is responsible for processing emotional responses and assessing threat levels, whether biotic (living) or abiotic (non-living). Moreover, dopamine, a crucial neurotransmitter, helps with the bonding process, and if not regulated properly, can induce addiction. What else could lead someone to become addicted to drugs, money, sex, food, or games?
From my standpoint, this is a commendable initiative from China to stymie this type of unconventional behaviour as we weren’t designed to bond with robots.
Dujean Edwards
dujeanedwards@gmail.com
