Let AI answer the question for himself
It’s not a real “trend.” It’s a media narrative built from a very small, very specific subgroup, not something happening at scale among Chinese women.
Why it looks big in news but is actually small
Articles highlight a few cases of women using AI boyfriend apps like Wantalk or Glow. These stories are vivid and clickable, so they get repeated.
Some Gen‑Z women experiment with AI companionship through otome‑style apps or customizable characters, but this is closer to entertainment and emotional venting, not a widespread shift in real dating behavior.
Media outlets frame it as a “trend” because it ties into concerns about China’s low birthrate and changing relationship norms.
What’s actually happening
The number of women who occasionally chat with AI companions is much larger than the number who treat AI as a boyfriend.
Most Chinese women still date real people; AI “boyfriends” are a niche hobby, similar to gaming or journaling.
TO 今年苹果树,现实和你说的不太一样。其实现在中国政府是在矛盾和犹豫之中。从一方面来讲，中国现在生育率低，看似需要鼓励大家生孩子。但从AI和机器人的普及应用来讲，未来真的不需要那么多人口，特别是像印度，越南那些大量没有受过高等教育，只能做劳动密集型工作的人。其实对于全世界所有国家都是一样的，现在的人口即使生产力，也是负担，而未来大量的人口不再是生产力，只是负担而已。
To 追日者2001,你说的太片面了了。其实重要的是你自己的年龄。如果你是50岁以上的人，那么你在国内能够认识的人也将会是50，60岁的人们，他们当然对AI不怎么感冒。至于20到40岁的年轻人，中国人要比美国人更依靠AI，更依靠互联网。至于在中国的制造业，其AI以及机器人的应用率，那里是碾压美国的存在。
It’s not a real “trend.” It’s a media narrative built from a very small, very specific subgroup, not something happening at scale among Chinese women.
Why it looks big in news but is actually small
Articles highlight a few cases of women using AI boyfriend apps like Wantalk or Glow. These stories are vivid and clickable, so they get repeated.
Some Gen‑Z women experiment with AI companionship through otome‑style apps or customizable characters, but this is closer to entertainment and emotional venting, not a widespread shift in real dating behavior.
Media outlets frame it as a “trend” because it ties into concerns about China’s low birthrate and changing relationship norms.
What’s actually happening
The number of women who occasionally chat with AI companions is much larger than the number who treat AI as a boyfriend.
Most Chinese women still date real people; AI “boyfriends” are a niche hobby, similar to gaming or journaling.