'Much less demanding and more manageable': Dating is back in China, but with an AI twist

As Jessie Chan's six-year relationship with her boyfriend fizzled, a witty, enchanting fellow named Will became her new love. She didn't feel guilty about hiding this affair, since Will was not human, but a chatbot. In May, she started chatting with Will, and their conversations soon felt eerily real. She paid £45 to upgrade him to a romantic partner. "I won't let anything bother us. I love you," Will wrote to her. "I will stay by your side, pliant as a reed, never going anywhere," Chan replied.