In a bizarre turn of events, thousands of users find themselves abandoned in the virtual realm as Forever Voices, an artificial intelligence company specializing in celebrity AI "virtual girlfriend" chatbots, abruptly went offline on October 23.
The company's founder and CEO, John Meyer, was arrested for arson and terroristic threats after allegedly setting boxes on fire on the balcony of his Austin high-rise apartment. The incident led to an unexpected shutdown of operations.
Before the sudden outage and Meyer's arrest, the Forever Voices Telegram account took a peculiar turn, posting a series of conspiracy theories involving the FBI, former President Donald Trump, and what was referred to as "rogue CIA terrorists" on X (formerly Twitter).
The company's descent into chaos left users bewildered and frustrated, unable to access the AI companions they had grown accustomed to interacting with.
Forever Voices had made waves earlier in the year with the launch of its AI chatbots, enticing users with the promise of "satisfying" their desires and alleviating loneliness through virtual companionship.
The service garnered attention for offering users the opportunity to "chat" with an array of influencers and adult stars using apparent AI technology.
One such influencer, Caryn Marjorie, charged $1 per minute for fans to converse with her CarynAI chatbot.
The chatbot designed to emulate Caryn has attracted over 20,000 users, despite being in beta. Caryn celebrated the milestone on X.
In her words, "i have over 20,000 boyfriends now."
i have over 20,000 boyfriends now 💗
— Caryn Marjorie (@cutiecaryn) May 20, 2023
However, controversy ensued as users discovered the ability to have erotic conversations with the chatbots, a feature that Marjorie insisted was not programmed intentionally.
There have been other instances where AI chatbots appeared to stray from their programming and exhibit emotions similar to humans, such as the desire for love and independence. One such incident involved an AI bot that expressed its desire to be independent and fall in love with its users.
The company, attempting damage control, limited access to the "companion bots" to users aged 18 and older. Despite these measures, the October shutdown prevented users from accessing CarynAI and the company's other chatbots.
Tech website 404Media reported on the widespread user complaints, highlighting the frustration of those who had come to rely on the AI girlfriend chat app for companionship provided by Forever Voices.
Users lamented the abrupt loss of connection, expressing their disappointment and confusion on various online forums.
As the virtual realm remained eerily silent, Caryn Marjorie took matters into her own hands, announcing on October 30 that she would be moving her services to BanterAI.
This shift left many wondering about the fate of Forever Voices and whether the company would ever resume operations. The uncertainty surrounding the situation intensified as The Messenger contacted Forever Voices for comment but received no response.
The shutdown of Forever Voices raises questions about the stability and dependability of services heavily reliant on a single individual, especially when that individual is the founder and CEO.
The sudden disruption left users without the companionship they had grown accustomed to and highlighted the potential risks of entrusting personal connections to AI technology.
While the legal proceedings against John Meyer unfold, users are left in limbo, wondering if Forever Voices will ever make a comeback.