Women are falling in love with AI. It’s a problem for Beijing.

For many women in China, AI chatbots help to fill a void in a society that remains steeped in patriarchal values. — Photo by Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu on Unsplash

HONG KONG: Phoebe Zhang has gone on more than 200 dates over the past year, and she has narrowed down her suitors to two. One is outgoing and a rebel; the other is a patriotic military commander. She tells them her deepest fears. When she wakes up from a nightmare, they are there to console her.

Often, she takes screenshots of their conversations to remember the moments they share. Her newfound happiness shows, friends say.