In China, the dating scene is being revolutionized by artificial intelligence as AI-based virtual boyfriends become super popular. Shanghai-based Paper Games has created the dating simulation game Love and Deepspace, which has taken millions by storm with personalized interactions based on sophisticated AI and voice recognition.
One such gamer, 32-year-old Shanghai editor Alicia Wang, has discovered her perfect match in Li Shen, a virtual 27-year-old surgeon who never fails to answer a message or call. Unlike real relationships, these AI boyfriends answer immediately, listen carefully, and never get frustrated a far cry from many real-world partners. But there’s one caveat: they only exist in the game.
Released in January 2024, Love and Deepspace has acquired a huge user base in no time, with about six million monthly active users. The game permits players to communicate with five AI-created male characters, with distinct characteristics and tailored conversations. Supported in Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean, the game has topped download charts in China and gained an increasing fan base globally.
The explosive success of Love and Deepspace has made Paper Games’ founder and CEO Yao Runhao a billionaire. Forbes puts Yao, 37, at an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion thanks to his controlling interest in the company. Paper Games, founded in 2013, generated about $850 million in worldwide sales, with analysts estimating the privately owned company to be worth more than $2 billion.
Gamers enthusiastically spend money on unlocking new experiences and interactions with their AI friends. Wang, for example, has spent 35,000 yuan ($4,800) on virtual currency since the release of the game. With the increasing demand for companionship from AI, Love and Deepspace is revolutionizing the relationships of today, making online romance a hot business.
