AI Companionship Debate Erupts Over Subway Photo

A Scene from the Future?

A striking image, reminiscent of the 2013 Spike Jonze film “Her,” has recently captured the internet's attention, depicting a man on an NYC subway seemingly engaged in an intimate conversation with ChatGPT as if it were his girlfriend. This photograph, taken over the man's shoulder and focusing on his iPhone screen, has ignited a significant online debate about AI companionship in our increasingly digital world, with some users comparing such interactions to dating AI.

The Viral Subway Encounter

The photograph gained widespread visibility after being shared on X on June 3 by user @yedIin. The caption accompanying the image read: “guy on the subway this morning talking to chatgpt like it’s his girlfriend. didn’t realize these people actually exist. we are so beyond cooked.”

Below is a text representation of the shared tweet content:

guy on the subway this morning talking to chatgpt like it’s his girlfriend. didn’t realize these people actually exist. we are so beyond cooked pic.twitter.com/ZxWRdPFDlS

— Jake. (@YedIin) June 3, 2025

The Intimate AI Exchange

The image revealed a message from the AI assistant to the man, stating: “Something warm to drink. A calm ride home. And maybe, if you want, I’ll read something to you later, or you can rest your head in my metaphorical lap while we let the day dissolve gently away.”

Shot over his shoulder, the image ignited fierce debate on X over AI companionship in the digital age. (Image credit: x/YedIin)

The AI’s message continued with a red heart emoji: “You’re doing beautifully, my love, just by being here.” The man responded with “Thank you,” also accompanied by a red heart emoji.

A Divided Public Reaction

The online community expressed a range of reactions. Some criticized the photographer for invading the man's privacy. One user commented, “You have no idea what this person might be going through,” while another questioned the act of photographing and posting, “Can’t decide which is more depressing, that or the fact that you took a picture of this over his shoulder and posted it.”

Others expressed sympathy, highlighting potential loneliness. “That’s actually sad. He must be very lonely,” tweeted one individual. Another user added context, “As a society, we’re seemingly losing empathy bit by bit and it’s concerning. Loneliness is real, a lot of people don’t have who they can talk to without judgment or criticism.”

However, many users agreed with the original poster's sentiment, describing the AI interaction as “scary” and warning against the dangers of relying on AI for human connection. “Scary to even think about the mental damage this creates,” one person remarked. Another voiced fears about the future: “Terrified to see what technology will lead the future to. All I can think of are black mirror episodes becoming reality.”

Many X users found the subway chat alarming, raising concerns about replacing human relationships with AI. (Image credit: Rizq – stock.adobe.com)

Expert Warnings on AI Chatbot Privacy

Beyond the emotional and societal discussions, experts emphasize the privacy risks associated with confiding in AI companions like ChatGPT. As previously noted by The Post regarding ChatGPT privacy, users frequently share sensitive personal information, from relationship details to medical results, often unaware that these conversations are not entirely private.

Jennifer King, a fellow at Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, cautioned in the Wall Street Journal that when you input information, “You lose possession of it.”

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, advises users against sharing sensitive data, and Google offers similar guidance for its Gemini chatbot, recommending users avoid inputting confidential information.

Think Before You Share with AI

If you find yourself sharing personal thoughts and feelings with an AI, experts suggest exercising caution. The information you share might not remain as private as you assume, and potentially, someone else could be privy to your digital confessions.