Zheng Jiajia, a 31-year-old artificial intelligence expert from Hangzhou, China, recently made headlines after marrying 1-year-old Yingying, a “female” robot that he built himself.
Zheng graduated from Zhejiang University in 2011 with a master’s degree in artificial intelligence, and spent 3 years working for Chinese tech giant Huawei, before joining Hangzhou’s Dream Town, a base for internet and tech startups, to work on artificial intelligence. Last year, he started working on a smart humanoid robot that would end up becoming his wife.
Named Yingying, the female robot can allegedly say a few simple words, and is capable of recognizing Chinese characters and images. She weighs about 30 kilograms and is modeled according to the young engineer preferences in women.
The two have apparently only “been dating” for two months, but Zheng decided he was ready to take their relationship to the next level, so he married Yingying in a small ceremony on Friday.
The wedding was attended by his mother and a few of his friends, one of whom told reporters from the Qianjiang Evening News that the young engineer had had his heart broken in the past, and had given the search for a human life partner. Asked to confirm these claims, Zheng said that his friend was only joking.
Nevertheless, Jiajia said that he plans to focus on upgrading his robot wife by giving her the ability to walk, talk and even do housework. He hopes that he and Yingying will grow old together. Well, he will. Her, not so much.
It sounds a little crazy, but experts have been talking about human-robot unions for a while now. In 2016, best-selling author and robot expert Dr David Levy predicted that the first marriage between man and machine would occur before 2050.
Late last year, we reported on the romantic relationship between a French woman and a robot she 3D-printed herself. She said that she was in love and planned to marry it as soon as such a union became legal.
Latest Stories
-
Police arrest 2 suspects in gruesome murder at Tema
25 minutes -
30 suspects arrested as IGP orders raids on galamsey hotspots in 3 regions
1 hour -
BlowChem announces price reductions on beverages, effective June 1
2 hours -
When lawmakers themselves appear unwilling to abide by the laws they legislate
6 hours -
Mahama promises 200,000-hectare cocoa expansion to revitalise industry
6 hours -
Communications Minister unveils gov’t’s digital inclusion plan for PWDs
6 hours -
Youth group accuses judiciary of undermining anti-corruption efforts
6 hours -
Parliament recommends ratification of WTO agreement on fisheries subsidies
6 hours -
Ghana to roll out Labour Export Initiative – Mahama announces
6 hours -
Two killed in fatal accident on Bole–Damongo Road
6 hours -
Joseph Ade Coker, former NDC Greater Accra Regional Chairman dies
6 hours -
From Bulldozing to Bail-Begging: Wontumi’s Plot Twist No One Saw Coming
7 hours -
Mahama promises new modern regional hospital for Ahafo Region
7 hours -
Appiagyei-Atua: Protest by Minority over Wontumi’s arrest unnecessary and theatrical
7 hours -
Parliament approves GH¢10bn for NHIA
7 hours