"The future is now!" is what I thought when the TikTok algorithm surprised me about women from different parts of the world who work as "virtual girlfriends."1 While the movies once prompted us to dream that one day we could experience a virtual romantic relationship,2 we now see that technological advances continue to produce and perfect prototypes of Artificial Intelligence (AI) using quick-download applications that seek to recreate the dynamics of romantic relationships through the exchange of written messages, voice messages, photos, and real-time videos.
We might think that these interactions are carried out exclusively by AI. However, some sources reveal that there are streamers, women acting as "virtual girlfriends,"3 who share content online, depending on the funds available to the user.
Some are available 24/7, organizing their time to interact with the boyfriends on their schedule and, according to the app's criteria, either showing their own faces or bringing digital models to life, which users can customize according to their tastes and preferences.4
The interesting thing is that "virtual girlfriends" report that users, mostly men, have changed their requests. There are still those who seek only erotic and sexual content, but many others request interaction that mimics what would be an everyday relationship.
All this piques our curiosity when the interest, for example, is not simply in sexting with someone, but in receiving, perhaps, a "good morning," "have you had lunch yet?" "How was your day at work?" "I miss you so much," and all those things that everyone imagines couples say to each other. Now, this is a very particular kind of interaction: no hugs, no caresses, no bodies… so, where there are no bodies, what is there?
[1] Cf. AI-generated virtual girlfriends, videos available online: tiktok.com.
[2] Cf. Jonze, S. (Director). (2013). Her [Film]. Annapurna Pictures.
[3] Cf. Instructions for women who work as virtual girlfriends, videos available online: tiktok.com and Instagram.com.
[4] Cf. Apps for creating virtual girlfriends: unite.ai and playgroundweb.com.
