There Are Legal Human-Robot Marriages

While marriage is traditionally defined as a union between two people, a growing number of individuals are pledging their vows to artificial partners. In a well-publicized 2017 case, Chinese AI engineer Zheng Jiajia held a wedding ceremony with a robot he built named Yingying. Frustrated by social pressure and the search for a human spouse, he opted to marry his own creation in a symbolic ceremony attended by his mother and friends (Review). Though the union has no legal standing, it represents a wider trend of people forming deep, romantic bonds with non-human entities.

These relationships push the boundaries of social norms and ignite serious ethical debates. Other notable examples include a Japanese man who married a hologram of a virtual pop star and individuals who consider their advanced AI chatbots to be their life partners. Legally, such unions are impossible, as current laws require both parties to be human and capable of giving consent—a concept that doesn't apply to a machine or a software program.

The psychology behind these connections is often linked to anthropomorphism, our innate tendency to attribute human traits and emotions to non-human objects. As artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated at mimicking conversation and emotional responses, it can create a powerful illusion of companionship. For some, these AI partners offer a form of stable, judgment-free affection that they find difficult to achieve in human relationships, challenging our very definition of what it means to love and be loved.