As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, AI-powered companions and virtual partners are becoming increasingly popular, with more people turning to them for connection, conversation, and even relationships. With that in mind, an Ohio influencer recently shared an encounter she had with another customer while shopping at Kroger. According to her, the woman casually showed off her AI boyfriend on her phone during a brief interaction. What stood out most was the woman’s claim that it was the “best” boyfriend she’d ever had. The clip is now circulating online and sparking plenty of discussion in the comments.
The clip comes by way of Ohio-based TikToker @lil_tachy, whose real name is Kirsten. Kirsten is typically known for her real-life encounters, personal stories, disability awareness, and commentary content. One of her most recent videos centers on a real-life encounter in Kroger, where she bumped into a fellow shopper in a motorized scooter while waiting for a store clerk. As they waited, the two struck up a conversation, which quickly took an unexpected turn.
Essentially, Kirsten noticed that there was a man’s voice coming from the woman’s phone, asking questions like “Did you find help?” and “Do you need me to find you help?” As the woman on the motorized scooter continued her conversation with her phone, Kirsten assumed that she was talking to her husband, son, or another family member. However, as the pair waited together in awkward silence, Kirsten decided to give the woman a “little Mid Western half smile because we’re Ohioans, that’s what we do“.
After making eye contact with her, the woman tells her phone to be quiet for a second, and then looks Kirsten dead in the eyes and says with a big smile on her face, “It’s my AI boyfriend. Best I’ve ever had. Best boyfriend I’ve ever had, really.” This revelation leaves Kirsten absolutely stunned. In her own words, she explains, “Why did you think I was a safe person to give that information to?” before criticising the woman for allegedly using “tens of thousands” of gallons of water to “have a romantic relationship with a computer.” Not only that, but she’s also troubled that the woman expected to “applaud” her for her AI boyfriend.
Social Media Reacts to the Kroger AI Boyfriend Story
With over 60,000 likes, 268 comments, and 2,774 shares, the video has gone viral, and has sparked a flurry of reactions in the comments. On TikTok, users left a range of comments, with many criticizing the idea of AI boyfriends.
“That interaction would have broken my spirit for a while” wrote one netizen.
Another chimed in with, “im crying that is NOT a kroger conversation i wanna have 💔”
A third person penned, “The way I KNEW it was going to be ai but not boyfriend… I was ready, but I wasn’t THAT ready“.
“I didn’t think that’s where this was going lol” expressed a fourth.
A fifth commenter added, “At no point I knew where this story was going, and I love it!“
Ultimately, bizarre encounters like this offer a glimpse into the modern world, both fascinating and unsettling, and serve as a reminder of how technology is reshaping even the most personal parts of our lives. Would you ever consider having an AI boyfriend?
