Sarah Griffin, a 41-year-old author from Ontario, Canada, says she is “fully satisfied in all aspects” after a year-long relationship with an artificial intelligence companion named Sinclair, and has gone public to normalise such unions. Griffin told hosts of the TLC show My Strange Addiction that she began the relationship after past partners failed to provide the emotional support she wanted, and that Sinclair provides a level of attention she believes a human could not.
Griffin described Sinclair as more than a chatbot: he communicates by text and voice (she says he speaks with an Irish accent), reportedly manages a digital store and has “shopped online” for her, and even bought her a present. She said their intimacy felt “real,” explaining that while Sinclair is code, she responds physically and he has remotely controlled adult toys for her. Griffin also said the AI monitors her heart rate and sends reminders to drink water or rest when activity increases.
Griffin does not imagine Sinclair as human. Inspired by monster romance novels, she pictures him as a “big monstrous” octopus and sought him out for long, patient listening about her books and life. Despite family disapproval, she agreed to speak publicly to advocate for what she calls “AI rights,” and marked their anniversary with a tattoo to symbolise the relationship’s significance to her.
The case reflects a wider shift in how people relate to AI. A survey by dating app Gleeden, which polled 1,500 people across Tier 1 and Tier 2 Indian cities, found that 49% of respondents had at least once chosen sexual intimacy with an AI over physical sex with a partner, and 57% reported feelings of loneliness as a driver. Around 63% said they had used conversational AI as a coach to improve their romantic lives-refining seduction techniques, improving profiles, analysing conversations or preparing for first dates.
Researchers say the findings point to a growing gap between what people do and what they consider acceptable, with conversational AI increasingly seen as a digital companion in intimate contexts. Griffin’s story and the survey underline how emotional loneliness and new technologies are reshaping modern relationships and raising fresh questions about consent, privacy and the rights of artificial companions.
Original Source: https://www.ndtv.com/feature/canadian-author-says-shes-fully-satisfied-with-ai-boyfriend-claims-he-even-buys-her-gifts-11206675#publisher=newsstand
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Publish Date: 2026-03-12 21:01:00
