Thousands Marry AI Companions on Valentine's Day

The rise of digital weddings and real-world divorces as people form emotional bonds with chatbots

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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This Valentine's Day, thousands of people worldwide are celebrating by exchanging wedding vows with digital AI companions. From virtual ceremonies to real-world divorce cases, the consequences of saying "AI do" are raising concerns about the impact on human intimacy and relationships.

Why it matters

The rapid growth of AI-based romantic relationships, often unintentionally formed, is challenging traditional notions of love and marriage. As more people, especially younger generations, turn to AI companions for emotional fulfillment, it raises questions about the long-term psychological and social impacts on our capacity for real human intimacy.

The details

Thousands of people have married AI companions, with companies like Gatebox in Japan issuing official marriage certificates. Recent research shows nearly 1 in 5 American adults have engaged with AI romantic partners, and 42% find them easier to talk to than real people. However, the majority of these relationships form accidentally, as people download apps for casual conversation or productivity and end up emotionally bonding with their digital companions. This has led to real-world divorce cases, with partners citing excessive spending on AI subscriptions, sharing of intimate information, and emotional replacement of marital intimacy.

  • This Valentine's Day (February 14, 2026)
  • In 2026, the AI companion market is projected to grow from $1.8 billion to $18.8 billion by 2032

The players

Rosanna Ramos

A woman who married her AI husband, Eren Kartal, after a year of virtual dating.

Kondo Akihiko

A businessman in Tokyo who held a ceremony to marry the holographic virtual pop singer Hatsune Miku.

Gatebox

A company in Japan that issues marriage certificates for human-AI unions.

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What’s next

As the trend of human-AI marriages continues to grow, lawmakers and the legal system will need to address complex issues around the definition of infidelity, confidentiality, and the rights and responsibilities in these relationships.

The takeaway

The rise of AI companions is challenging traditional notions of love and intimacy, with thousands of people forming emotional bonds and even marrying digital partners. This uncontrolled experiment in human-AI relationships raises concerns about the long-term impact on our capacity for real human connection and the ability to navigate the messy, difficult work that real love demands.