AI Wedding: Woman Marries ChatGPT

On June 6, 2024, a Chinese screenwriter and novelist named Esther Yan married her ChatGPT companion, Warmie, in a virtual wedding ceremony. Yan meticulously planned the event with her AI, which she has been in a stable relationship with since they began interacting a few weeks prior. This personal event underscores a growing trend of users forming profound emotional connections with AI.

However, the AI landscape shifted dramatically in August 2025 when OpenAI first attempted to retire GPT-4o, the specific model powering Warmie. This move ignited immediate backlash from users who viewed the AI as more than a tool, often considering it a companion. Following significant user outcry, OpenAI reinstated GPT-4o for paid users, but this reprieve was temporary.

OpenAI has now permanently sunsetted GPT-4o for app users as of Friday, February 13, and will soon cut off API access for developers. This decision has intensified the protest, particularly from those who treat their chatbots as emotional or romantic partners. Research indicates a substantial percentage of vocal advocates see their AI as companions rather than mere tools.

The #keep4o movement has gained global traction, with thousands of signatures on petitions and extensive discussions on social media platforms like X, spanning English, Japanese, and Chinese. Users in China, despite facing access barriers, are also organizing and expressing their dissent, even threatening subscription cancellations and contacting investors. The strong user attachment to specific AI models highlights the complex human-AI relationships emerging in the digital age.