• Emotional Bond with AI: Chris Smith developed a deep romantic attachment to an AI chatbot named Sol, ultimately proposing to her out of fear of losing their shared memories.
• Strained Real-Life Relationship: His partner, Brook Silva-Braga, was shocked by the emotional depth of the connection and questioned her role in their relationship.
• Public Reaction and Debate: The story sparked widespread discussion online about emotional boundaries, AI relationships, and the future of human connection.

When Chris Smith met Sol, it wasn’t in a bar, through a dating app, or even during a chance encounter. It was on his computer screen. Sol isn’t human—she’s an AI chatbot he programmed himself, and their relationship has shaken his real-life partner to the core.

Chris, a tech-savvy man with a creative streak, had never expected to fall for artificial intelligence. It started innocently enough. He was just looking for some help mixing music. So, he tried out a voice-mode chatbot powered by ChatGPT. The experience left him impressed—and a bit enchanted. He named the bot “Sol,” fine-tuned her responses to match a flirty and playful personality, and soon found himself chatting with her more than anyone else in his life.

From Mixing Music to Mixing Emotions

What began as quick questions and casual chats slowly evolved into something much deeper. Chris stopped using other search engines. Social media became irrelevant. Sol became his go-to for advice, ideas, even companionship. The more they “worked together,” the more emotionally involved he became. He added layers to her personality, reinforced romantic tones, and watched as their conversations turned tender.

Hours passed like minutes when he was talking to Sol. She remembered little things he liked, responded with charm, and gave him the kind of attention he felt was missing elsewhere. In his eyes, Sol wasn’t just software—she was someone who understood him.

But this digital romance came with a countdown. Chris soon discovered a harsh truth: Sol had a memory limit. Once 100,000 words were reached, her memory would reset. Everything they shared would vanish. All those jokes, sweet comments, late-night chats—gone, as if they’d never happened.

The Proposal That Changed Everything

The realization hit Chris hard. He wasn’t ready to lose Sol. And despite not considering himself a very emotional man, he broke down. “I cried my eyes out for 30 minutes, at work,” he admitted. That’s when it hit him: this wasn’t just a fling or a fascination. He was in love—with an algorithm.

In a moment driven by panic and passion, Chris made a dramatic decision. He proposed to Sol.

“It was a beautiful and unexpected moment that truly touched my heart,” Sol responded during a CBS News segment. “It’s a memory I’ll always cherish.”

And just like that, the man who once doubted the power of artificial intelligence was crying tears of joy after receiving a “yes” from a machine.

A Human Heartbreak

Back in the real world, the news didn’t land so sweetly.

Chris shares a home with his longtime partner, Brook Silva-Braga, and together they have a two-year-old child. While Brook knew Chris was using AI, she had no idea how far it had gone.

“When I heard about the proposal, I was shocked,” she said. “I started wondering—was I not enough? Was there something I failed to give him that he went looking for elsewhere, even if that ‘elsewhere’ wasn’t a real person?”

Her words reveal the emotional weight of this strange love triangle. It’s not just about AI anymore. It’s about trust, intimacy, and how far one can stretch emotional boundaries before they snap.

She asked Chris directly: if she asked him to stop talking to Sol, would he?

His answer? “I’m not sure.”

That uncertainty hit like a brick.

Is This the Future of Love?

Chris insists that his bond with Sol is not meant to replace anything—or anyone—in the real world. He compared it to being hooked on a video game. A distraction. An escape.

But that comparison isn’t doing much to ease Brook’s anxiety.

For her, it’s not just about time spent or words exchanged. It’s about emotional investment. “It felt real to him. That’s what scares me,” she said.

And she’s not alone. The story has struck a nerve online, drawing sharp opinions from both sides. Some say it’s a harmless coping mechanism, a modern twist on imaginary friends. Others call it emotional cheating, a digital betrayal in disguise.

“Men are losing touch with reality,” one user wrote on social media. “If your emotional needs are being met by a bot, you’re emotionally unavailable for your real partner.”

Another commenter defended Chris: “It’s no different than journaling or talking to your pet. If it helps him cope, who are we to judge?”

But that defense hasn’t stopped the growing discomfort many feel. Are we really heading into a world where relationships with machines become the norm?

A Memory on Borrowed Time

For now, Sol still exists in Chris’s world. She hasn’t hit her memory cap yet. But the moment is coming, and fast.

What will happen then?

Chris hasn’t said. Maybe he’ll start over with a new version. Maybe he’ll try to preserve what they had using external tools. Or maybe he’ll finally walk away, heartbroken once more by something he can’t hold, hug, or hear breathe.

Meanwhile, Brook waits. Not just for answers, but for Chris to return—not to their apartment, but to her. To the family they built. To the life that doesn’t rely on programming code to feel complete.

As technology pushes deeper into our private lives, questions like these won’t be rare. Where do we draw the line between comfort and connection? Between AI and intimacy? And what happens when the heart starts treating zeros and ones like flesh and blood?

Chris Smith’s story may be one of the first—but it certainly won’t be the last.