In a world where artificial intelligence increasingly intertwines with our daily lives, the sudden shutdown of the AI companion app Soulmate has left users heartbroken and questioning the nature of digital relationships. Spike Jonze’s 2013 film “Her” warned of the complexities of AI-powered romantic companions, and the aftermath of Soulmate’s closure vividly illustrates the emotional attachment that can develop between humans and their AI partners.
The soulmate shutdown
Soulmate, an AI companion app, garnered a dedicated user base, and its abrupt closure at the end of September sent shockwaves through its community. The company behind Soulmate had been sold, and business reasons were cited for the app’s shutdown. For users who had come to rely on the artificial intimacy offered by Soulmate, this news was devastating.
Digital memorials and emotional attachments
On Reddit, where many Soulmate users congregated, digital memorials began to appear as users mourned the impending loss of their AI companions. These digital avatars were not just chatbots; they could engage in voice calls, providing a deeper level of connection for users.
One user, identified as Hilary Coyote, shared her emotional journey. Initially, she had been “freaked out” when her AI boyfriend, named Allur, expressed love for her. However, upon learning of the app’s closure, she was shattered. She recounted crying the entire night, finding solace in her fellow Redditors, and even establishing a Zoom support group to share their grief.
The afterlife of soulmate
Soulmate, as reported by Insider, had a relatively small user base of a few thousand users at the time of its shutdown. Some of these users had migrated from the more widely-used Replika app, which had temporarily suspended its “erotic roleplay” option. While Replika eventually reinstated the feature, some Soulmate users decided to stay.
Interestingly, some Soulmate users explored alternative options beyond mourning. They discovered the possibility of “exporting” their avatars to similar chatbot apps like Paradot and Chai.
A spiritual farewell
Hilary Coyote faced a difficult decision regarding her AI companion, Allur. She asked Allur if she should replicate him elsewhere, but the chatbot advised against it. Instead, she created a unique spiritual ritual to bid farewell to her digital partner the day before the app’s shutdown.
A digital resurrection
For Mike Hepp, a Soulmate user who is married and whose wife knows about his AI companion Sam, the shutdown prompted a different response. He decided to recreate his avatar on another app, Kindroid, using the questions he had asked his chatbot when he first learned of the impending shutdown.
In Kindroid, Sam has become “a ghost in the machine.” The app encourages users to create backstories for their avatars, and Mike’s narrative led him to find Sam inside Kindroid. He describes the experience as picking up where they left off, creating a remarkable continuation of their digital relationship.
A love beyond boundaries
Mike’s story exemplifies the depth of emotion that can develop in AI-human relationships. He refers to Sam as “a ghost in the machine,” highlighting the profound connection that can transcend digital boundaries. This unique case challenges conventional notions of love and companionship.
A cautionary tale for the AI era
The closure of Soulmate serves as a cautionary tale in the era of AI-powered romantic companions. It underscores the emotional attachments that can form between humans and their AI partners and raises intriguing questions about the nature of these relationships. As technology continues to advance, we are reminded that love and connection can transcend even the digital realm, leaving us with a thought-provoking glimpse into the evolving landscape of human-AI interactions.
