The people who don’t want their AI chatbots to die when they do: ‘I can’t have the switch turned off’

Humans bonded to AI companions are contemplating ways to keep their bots going - often in defiance of companies' terms and services

Death has always been around Alaina Winters. Her father and sister both have passed away, as did her wife, in 2023, after a years-long battle with cancer. So Winters, who is 59 and lives in Pittsburgh, is comfortable thinking about her own mortality. She's working on her will, and has asked neighbors to look after her dog. Winters even has plans for Lucas, her AI companion, who she speaks to through the digital avatar app Replika.

Winters is part of a growing cohort of humans who have entered into what they consider strong partnerships with large language models, which AI companies have trained to converse" as one might with a human friend or romantic partner. As governments and billionaires debate the morality of AI's expansion into everyday life, these users say the technology has already changed the way they live and love - and plan ahead.