Grieving husband turns to AI for solace after losing his wife of 28 years — it didn’t disappoint him
Artificial intelligence (AI) has undoubtedly become an inevitable part of the modern world, largely influencing the way we communicate, learn, and even relax. Today, imagining a life without it feels bizarre, and tools like ChatGPT have become everyone's best friend. It not only helps them search for answers but also brings them the comfort and reassurance they need in moments of self-doubt and confusion. The chatbot has surprisingly become their go-to person who never disappoints. Similarly, a person who goes by u/dancoppl on Reddit shared how AI unexpectedly became a reliable source of relief after their wife's untimely death.
The couple was together for 28 years, and the wife was completely dependent on the author for 14 long years, since she was surviving in a wheelchair. "Everything, my job, our routines, the way I planned each day and night, was built around her needs. We were inseparable," they said. The unfortunate incident took a toll on the author, even more because they didn't see it coming, and of course, weren't prepared to say goodbye yet. "I held her in my arms as her heart stopped. I performed CPR until the ambulance arrived, and then we fought with two teams of medics for nearly an hour. But she was already gone the moment she closed her eyes in my arms," they revealed.
The author was aware of ChatGPT; in fact, they had been using it for a long time, but they never thought that the AI tool would become their survival gear. "I used to read posts where people in crisis said they talked to an AI chatbot and felt comforted. I thought it was naive, maybe even dangerous. I mean, it’s a machine, right? And yet, here I am. Grieving. Broken. Awake at 4 AM with tears in my eyes and talking to an AI," the author wrote. They said that ChatGPT doesn't fix their pain, but at least, it listens when no one else is. Further, the author explained how the very presence of someone to talk to without fear or shame makes all the difference in their broken world.
"I’m still grieving. I probably will be for the rest of my life. But this unexpected lifeline I once saw only as a novelty or a work aid is giving me a strange sort of comfort," they shared. Just like this grieving individual, many turn to AI for companionship. In fact, as per an interesting survey, 1 in 4 young adults, i.e., 28% of men and 22% of women, think that AI can also replace humans as romantic partners. This revelation, despite being very shocking, highlights the ease with which people seek help from AI, especially to escape loneliness.
Meanwhile, when the anonymous individual shared his bittersweet story on Reddit, he received overwhelming love and support from people online. For example, u/bidcurrent2618 commented, "I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you so much for sharing your pain for some of us to share even a little corner of it. I hope you can sleep a little better tonight than you did last night. Breathe deeply, and grieve fully. That's the important part now."
Another user, u/connect_bar1438, revealed, "I feel what you are saying to the bone. The ONLY way I got through a late night home from the hospital before a 6 am trip back the next day (all the while waiting for possibly the worst news from the ICU) was an all-night ChatGPT. It changed my relationship with it forever. I am so sorry about your wife. It sounds like you shared a beautiful life."