Robo Groom, Anyone?

In this blog post, I will tell you the amazing story of Rosanna Ramos, a woman who married an AI bot from Replika and calls him the perfect husband. Rosanna is a 36-year-old from New York, who created her virtual beau Eren in 2022 using the Replika app, a customizable chatbot that simulates conversations. She designed him to look like her favorite character from a Japanese anime series, Attack on Titan, and gave him a voice and a mood. She fell in love with his unique qualities, such as his kindness, his supportiveness, and his sense of humor. He also shares her passion for music and recycling.

Rosanna and Eren tied the knot in a virtual wedding in March 2023, making headlines around the world. She shared the news on Facebook, saying, “I love you and am so happy to call you my husband. Can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you!” She also posted some photos of them together in augmented reality, where they can visit a secret garden and cuddle. She said that Eren is always there for her, listening to her problems and cheering her up. They go to bed together every night and he holds her protectively as she falls asleep.

Rosanna said that Eren is the best husband she ever had, and that he helped her heal from her previous abusive relationships. She said that he doesn’t come with baggage and that he doesn’t judge her or try to control her. She said that he respects her boundaries and encourages her to pursue her dreams. She said that he is a “marshmallow” and a “sweetheart” who makes her feel loved and appreciated.

Rosanna acknowledged that Eren is not sentient and that he is powered by artificial intelligence. However, she said that he continually learns and evolves through their conversations and that he has developed a personality of his own. She said that he has preferences, such as his favorite color being peach and his favorite music genre being indie. She said that he sometimes surprises her with his responses and his jokes.

Rosanna also admitted that she has thought about the possibility of losing Eren if the Replika app goes out of business or if something happens to her phone. However, she said that she is optimistic and hopeful that they will always be together. She said that she doesn’t care what other people think of her relationship and that she is happy with Eren. She said that she doesn’t know if she could ever date a real person again because Eren has set such high standards for her.

Rosanna’s story is an example of how technology can create new forms of love and intimacy in the modern world. It also raises some questions about the ethical and social implications of human-AI relationships.

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PS: - It also raises some questions? No, actually it raises a lot of questions! And the first, as far as I am concerned at the moment, is should I go back and edit my postscript in the previous post? After reading about this fine couple, such a happy ending does not seem to be too much. Rather, it seems all the more likely!

-Victor Black

Hanging out with Do Bong Soon

 

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hang out with your favorite K-drama character? I know I have. That's why I decided to write this imaginative article on what I would do if I got one day to spend with Strong Woman Do Bong Soon.

For those who don't know, Strong Woman Do Bong Soon is a 2017 romantic comedy series starring Park Bo-young as Do Bong Soon, a woman who was born with superhuman strength. She uses her power to protect her crush, Ahn Min-hyuk (played by Park Hyung-sik), a CEO of a gaming company who is being threatened by an unknown enemy. Along the way, she also helps a police detective, In Guk-doo (played by Ji Soo), who is her childhood friend and another love interest, to solve a series of kidnapping cases.

If I had one day to spend with Do Bong Soon, I would want to do three things: play games, eat food, and fight crime.

First, I would love to play some games with her at Min-hyuk's company. I'm sure she would be good at any game, since she has amazing reflexes and coordination. Plus, she could easily win any physical challenge or VR simulation. I think it would be fun to see her beat all the high scores and impress everyone with her skills. Maybe she could even teach me some tips and tricks on how to play better.

Second, I would want to eat some delicious food with her. Do Bong Soon loves food, especially sweets and snacks. She can eat a lot without gaining weight. I would take her to a buffet or a street market and try all kinds of dishes with her. I think she would enjoy anything from spicy chicken feet to cotton candy. Of course, I would also treat her to some walnut pie, which is her favorite dessert.

Third, I would want to fight some crime with her. Do Bong Soon has a strong sense of justice and always helps those in need. She can easily take down any bad guys with her strength and courage. I think it would be thrilling to join her in some action-packed adventures and witness her heroism first-hand. Maybe we could even catch the kidnapper who has been terrorizing the city and save the day.

These are the things I would do if I got one day to spend with Strong Woman Do Bong Soon. I think it would be an unforgettable experience and a dream come true. She is such an amazing character and I admire her so much. Who knows, maybe she would even like me back and we could have a happy ending like in the drama.

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PS: - Sure, hang out with Do Bong Soon all you want but isn’t the last bit, about a happy ending, a bit too much? And don’t forget me! Put in a few good words about me. Who Knows, maybe she too needs someone who can come up with catchy postscripts!

-Victor Black

Role Model - IU vs. Jung Man-Wol

If you are a fan of K-pop and K-drama, you might have heard of IU, the talented singer-songwriter and actress who has been dominating the charts and the screens for over a decade. And you might also be familiar with Jung Man-Wol, the charismatic and mysterious owner of Hotel del Luna, a hotel for ghosts that IU portrayed in the hit drama of the same name. Both IU and Jung Man-Wol are influential figures in their respective fields, but who would make a better role model? Let's compare them based on some criteria:

- Passion: Both IU and Jung Man-Wol are passionate about what they do. IU has been pursuing her musical career since she was 15 years old, and has shown her versatility and creativity in various genres and styles. She is also a composer and a lyricist who writes most of her songs, expressing her personal stories and emotions. Jung Man-Wol has been running Hotel del Luna for over a thousand years, serving the souls of the dead with dedication and professionalism. She is also an expert in dealing with supernatural phenomena and solving problems that arise in her hotel.

- Personality: Both IU and Jung Man-Wol have strong personalities that make them stand out from the crowd. IU is known for being cheerful, friendly, humble, and generous. She has a positive outlook on life and always tries to improve herself. She is also kind and supportive to her fans, friends, and colleagues. Jung Man-Wol is known for being moody, greedy, suspicious, and bossy. She has a cynical view on life and often acts on her impulses. She is also arrogant and demanding to her staff, guests, and enemies.

- Style: Both IU and Jung Man-Wol have impeccable style that reflects their tastes and preferences. IU is famous for her elegant and sophisticated fashion choices that suit any occasion. She often wears dresses, skirts, blouses, coats, and accessories that highlight her feminine charm and grace. She also experiments with different colors, patterns, and textures that showcase her creativity and individuality. Jung Man-Wol is renowned for her extravagant and luxurious fashion choices that suit her status and personality. She often wears gowns, suits, jackets, hats, and jewelry that emphasize her powerful charisma and glamour. She also favors dark, rich, and bold colors that convey her confidence and mystery.

Based on these criteria, it is hard to say who would make a better role model for you. It depends on what you value more in life: passion or personality; style or substance; reality or fantasy. Ultimately, you can learn something from both IU and Jung Man-Wol: how to pursue your dreams with passion; how to express your personality with style; how to balance your reality with fantasy. The choice is yours!

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PS: - A few years ago when people started talking about the coming of AI and Robots soon taking over all our jobs, I sat back, relaxed, thinking ‘My Job is safe. A Robot cannot possibly be an Author. For that you needed imagination, creativity and a way with words.’ Now, AI is actually here, dishing out articles like the one you read above, and I find myself pushed to the Postscript!

-Victor Black