Emma Cam: How my boyfriend used Artificial Intelligence to dump me

We’ve all felt the pain of a break-up, those stomach knots when your partner says, “we need to talk”. But have you been broken up with via AI?

Nothing prepared me for getting dumped via ChatGPT. Picture: Supplied

We’ve all felt the pain of a break-up — those stomach knots when your partner says, “we need to talk”.

I’ve been through it all; the break-up text, the ghosting, the classic “it’s not you, it’s me” (spoiler: it was definitely them).

But nothing prepared me for getting dumped via ChatGPT.

Yep, that’s right, AI — Artificial Intelligence.

Picture this: I’m mid-cry with my best friend on the phone, doing the usual post-break-up autopsy.

Was it the matching astrology app? Or maybe the couple’s vision board? Perhaps the glitter glue?

Then my phone pings. It’s him. He’s sent a message.

I opened it; eyes darting around scanning for signs of life.

“Here is a thoughtful response to the message and offering a genuine apology.”

Hang on … did I read that right?

I read it again. Out loud.

“Here is a thoughtful response to the message and offering a genuine apology.”

That’s when it hit me, he forgot to delete the prompt response.

“Here is a thoughtful response to the message and offering a genuine apology.” The irony. Picture: Emma Cam

Emma Cam said she was shocked the guy she was seeing just copy and pasted from ChatGPT. Picture: Johnny Diaz

The man didn’t even cut and paste. He just Ctrl-V’d his way out of our relationship.

There was silence. My bestie and I were simply stunned … like we’d just seen someone trip over their own dignity.

Then, our laughter exploded.

Not a cute giggle. A wheezing, stomach-clutching, “Is this seriously my life?” kind of laugh.

Was this actually happening? Did I just get dumped by a man and his robot sidekick?

Then came the questions.

Had I even been dating him this whole time? Or was I in a relationship with his AI-generated representative?

Was ChatGPT choosing everything for this man? Guiding him through each “Good morning” message and “Can’t wait to see you” text.

Girl.

Is this the future of dating? Is this really what we’ve become? People falling in love with someone’s prompt puppets?

As quickly as the laughter came, it vanished when it dawned on me I wasn’t even worth a hand-typed goodbye.

Love used to be messy in a cute way — awkward silences, bad dates, maybe a mixtape.

Now it’s algorithms, filtered thirst traps, Hinge voice notes that sound like confessions, and breakups outsourced to AI.

It’s giving Black Mirror, but with worse lighting.

And while I haven’t found my other half yet, even with all the swiping, bots, and perfectly curated profiles, I have to believe there’s still room for something real.
Something unscripted, something human.

Because honestly, I think I preferred getting ghosted.

Originally published as Emma Cam: How my boyfriend used Artificial Intelligence to dump me