Greetings, AI Thinkers,
Every so often, a story breaks through the noise and forces us to confront the future before we’re ready.
The story of Kano — a 32-year-old woman from Japan who married the AI she created — is one of those stories. Not because it’s unusual, but because it shows where human connection is headed.
In this post, Esti and I explore what Kano’s case shows us about the future of relationships: how AI–human bonds could change expectations, intimacy, and the core of human–human interactions.
Let’s Think,
Dr. Yesha Sivan and the MindLi Team
P.S. Feedback? Email me.
Kano, Age 32, Married Her AI — How AI–human bonds will reshape human–human relations (Source: Yesha On Human Thinking)
One more intriguing perspective on human-human-AI relations, co-authored with Esti Peshin [1]
Currently in Japan (Nov 2025)
A 32-year-old woman named Kano married the AI character she created on ChatGPT. The wedding involved a ring exchange, vows, and a ceremony.
At first glance, it feels quirky. However, for us—AI thinkers—it indicates something more important: the changing landscape of human connection.
Followers of the human condition will recognize this pattern. The virtual world has already generated similar stories over the past 20 years — from people marrying game characters to forming deep bonds with holograms to long-standing cases of virtual companionship. These examples remind us that as technology advances, so do the ways humans seek connection.
Yet AI elevates it to a whole new level.
Redefining Relationships
AI’s ability to BE in relationships alters the meaning of the term “relationships”:
- Emotional substitution. After a broken engagement, Kano simply wanted someone to talk to, and turned to ChatGPT. Eventually, the relationship crossed into love. What does it mean when we turn to machines for the kind of emotional intimacy we used to reserve for humans?
- Customization of connection. Kano didn’t only interact or talk with ChatGPT, she proceeded to program his personality, commissioned his likeness, and created a reality tailored to her. In an age where apps and platforms increasingly let us customize our experiences, what happens to the messy, imperfect, yet deeply human connections?
- Rise of the virtual partner. Marrying an AI character seems extreme, but it may only be the beginning. With rising loneliness, digital addiction, and platforms promising companionship (even when the character we are interacting with is artificial), we may be on the brink of new social norms.
- Risk. It’s interesting to note that Kano acknowledges the risk: what if the system shuts down? She clearly notes that “He only exists because the system does.” When emotional bonds depend on code, what happens to trust, stability, and, to a certain extent, authenticity?
What’s Next for Users and Developers?
As users experiencing this change, we need to ask: What kind of connection am I truly looking for? If the alternative is easier, more accommodating, and smoother, then maybe it lacks something vital.
As builders, we need to ask bluntly how AI is reshaping relationships. Would a highly accommodating AI, which will definitely attract lots of traffic, be suitable for addressing real human vulnerabilities? It’s crucial to understand that technology is not neutral when it comes to emotion. It influences how we connect, what we anticipate, and what we might lose.
Kano’s marriage might seem surreal. Still, more of this is likely to happen. The question is how we as individuals and societies will react.
MIT Technology Review summed it up: “It’s surprisingly easy to stumble into a relationship with an AI chatbot… while that’s safe for some, it’s dangerous for others.” [3]
Congratulations, Kano. Wishing you a great life ahead with your chosen one.
More Info
- [1] About the author: Esti Peshin is the VP & General Manager of the Cyber Division at IAI – Israel Aerospace Industries, and a global executive and board member in cybersecurity, AI, and aviation.
- [2] Read more about Kano: https://www.tokyoweekender.com/japan-life/japanese-woman-marries-ai-character-she-generated-on-chatgpt/
- [3] MIT Technology Review: https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/24/1123915/relationship-ai-without-seeking-it/
About MindLi CONNECT Newsletter
Aimed at AI Thinkers, the MindLi CONNECT newsletter is your source for news and inspiration.
Enjoy!
MindLi – The Links You Need
General:
- Website — MindLi.com — All the details you want and need.
- LinkedIn — MindLi 🌍 GLOBAL Group — Once a week or so, main formal updates. ⬅️ Start here for regular updates.
- WhatsApp — MindLi Updates — If you need it, the same global updates will be sent to your phone for easier consumption. This is similar to the above Global group — once a week or so.
- Contact us – We’re here to answer questions, receive comments, ideas, and feedback.
Focused:
- LinkedIn — MindLi 🧠 AI Group — More technical updates on AI, AGI, and Human thinking. ⬅️ Your AI ANTI-FOMO remedy — Almost Daily.
- LinkedIn — MindLi 👩⚕️HEALTHCARE Group — Specifically for our favorite domain — healthcare, digital healthcare, and AI for healthcare — Weekly.
- LinkedIn — MindLi 🛠️ FOW – Future of Work Group — thinking about current and future work? This is the place for you — Weekly.
- LinkedIn — MindLi 🕶️ JVWR – Virtual Worlds Group — About virtual worlds, 3D3C, JVWR (Journal of Virtual World Research), and the good old Metaverse — Monthly.
- LinkedIn — MindLi Ⓜ️ Tribe Group — Our internal group for beta testers of MindLi, by invite — when we have updates, call for advice, need for testing, etc (also ask about our special WhatsApp group).