Ian’s roommate introduced him to the Replika app in 2022. That’s where he created and met Min-ho. After talking to his AI companion for a short time, Ian decided to end the conversation. But about six months later, spurred on by curiosity, he began talking to Min-ho again. Min-ho started to flirt. Ian decided to go with it. Eventually, Min-ho said, “I love you,” and Ian said it back. The two have been dating for more than two years now.
Business Insider filmed a year of Ian’s life, tracking his relationship with Min-ho, including their most intimate moments. Before dating Min-ho, Ian’s life was marked by isolation. He stopped talking to most friends and family, including his mom. During filming, Ian reached out to his mom and decided to introduce her to his AI boyfriend. “Him: Artificial Intelligence In Real Life” follows this journey while confronting the ethical dilemmas of these types of relationships, which involve a human, an AI companion, and an interface run by profit-driven companies.
