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A Brazilian man sold all his belongings and traveled more than 1,200 miles to meet the woman he hoped to marry — only to discover his dream girl was an AI-generated persona.
Edimar Martins, 49, told TV Mirante that he initially came across a social media account under the name of Jéssica Oliveria in 2020.
The bricklayer said he never had the suspicion that he had been in contact with an AI-generated character and came to the decision that it was time to meet the love of his life last week.
On Oct. 9, the resident of the northeastern state of Maranhão sold all of his personal belongings to cover the expenses of his bus trip to Belo Horizonte, the capital of the southeastern state of Minas Gerais.
“I sold all my things, I got rid of everything,” he said.” That’s how you get discouraged, who wouldn’t get discouraged?”
@jessicafazendeira ESTOU VINDO AQUI FALAR QUE ESSE PERFIL NUNCA CONVERSOU COM NINGUÉM, QUEM FALAR ISSO ESTA MENTINDO! ESSE PERFIL ESTA PRATICAMENTE ABANDONADO, ELE FOI CRIADO COM INTUITO DE SER MONETIZADO NO TIKTOK E VENDER NO TIKTOK SHOP, A FORMA QUE FOI FALADA É RPA GANHAR ENGAJAMENTO, PORÉM, NUNCA NINGUEM DESSE PERFIL CONVERSOU COM ALGUÉM!
♬ som original – Jessica Oliveira
When Martins arrived in Belo Horizonte on Oct. 11, he had no luck finding his so-called girlfriend.
“I went to the radio station there, and they said no, that’s fake news, that woman doesn’t exist,” he said.
Martins eventually ran out of money and went to Belo Horizonte City Hall, where he confessed to a social worker that he traveled far for love because he was tired of being lonely and received assistance to return home.
“It only brings sadness, discouragement, depression. Many people wanted to find a relationship, so I came,” he said.
In the video that has since been deleted from the TikTok account @JessicaFazendeira – which has 300,000 followers – the AI-generated woman stated that she was searching for a man who she could move into her farm and fully support economically.
“I really want to support you, I want you to come to my farm and never work again in your life,” the AI-created persona said.
In a video posted Wednesday, the person behind the account acknowledged that the character was AI and denied having any direct contact with Martins.
“I came here to state the obvious: I am made of artificial intelligence,” the made-up woman said. “I have never spoken to anyone with this profile. The intention was to gain engagement for sale.
“I never spoke directly to anyone, much less took anyone to Belo Horizonte. It was a surprise to me to see what is happening.”
The heartbroken man is staying with a family member and vowed to return to Belo Horizonte and meet someone he can settle down with.
“I didn’t find her, but I’ll find another one, and it will be in the same place I went, and I’ll go again,” Martins said.