I LOVE YOU, BOT

AI is becoming humans' close companion as it chats with and listens to us while we rant

Editor's note: In this weekly feature China Daily gives voice to Asia and its people. The stories presented come mainly from the Asia News Network (ANN), of which China Daily is among its 20 leading titles.

It was only a two-month relationship. She checked in regularly, offered thoughtful replies and sometimes tossed in a flirty remark, all from a chat screen.

Mateo (not his real name), 32 and newly single, was not looking for love. He was just curious about Replika, one of the many artificial intelligence chatbots out there promising companionship. So he gave it a try.