A Brazilian man who sold all his belongings and travelled more than 1,200 miles to meet the woman he hoped to marry was left heartbroken after discovering that his online girlfriend was an artificial intelligence-generated character.Edimar Martins, 49, a bricklayer from Maranhao in northeastern Brazil, told local broadcaster TV Mirante that he first came across a social media profile featuring a woman named Jessica Oliveira in 2020. Believing she was real, Martins eventually decided to travel to meet the woman he had fallen for online.
Brazilian man sells everything to meet his AI girlfriend
According to Martins, he sold his personal belongings on October 9 to pay for a bus journey to Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil. He arrived in the city on October 11, hoping to finally meet the woman he believed could be his life partner.“I sold all my things, I got rid of everything,” Martins said, reflecting on the sacrifices he had made for the journey. “That’s how you get discouraged, who wouldn’t get discouraged?”However, his hopes were shattered when he failed to locate the woman. Martins eventually approached a local radio station for help, only to be told that the woman he was searching for did not exist.“I went to the radio station there, and they said no, that’s fake news, that woman doesn’t exist,” he said.
AI-generated woman promised to support him financially
The woman Martins believed he was going to meet appeared in videos shared through a TikTok account that reportedly had around 300,000 followers. The account, @JessicaFazendeira, featured an AI-generated persona who presented herself as a woman looking for a partner to live with her on her farm.In one video that was later deleted, the character claimed she wanted a man she could welcome to her property and support financially, promising that he would no longer have to work.“I really want to support you, I want you to come to my farm and never work again in your life,” the AI-generated character said in the video.The promise appears to have contributed to the impression that the woman was genuine. However, the person behind the account later acknowledged that the character was created using artificial intelligence and denied having any direct communication with Martins.
Person behind TikTok account admits character was created using AI
In a video posted on Wednesday, the person responsible for the account addressed the controversy and clarified that the woman featured in the videos was not real.“I came here to state the obvious: I am made of artificial intelligence,” the character said in the video.The person behind the account also denied personally speaking to Martins or inviting him to travel to Belo Horizonte.“I have never spoken to anyone with this profile. The intention was to gain engagement for sale,” the statement read.“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 revelation left Martins facing not only emotional disappointment but also financial hardship after spending the money he had raised by selling his possessions on the journey.
Man receives assistance to return home after running out of money
After failing to find the woman and eventually running out of money, Martins approached Belo Horizonte City Hall. He reportedly spoke to a social worker and explained that he had travelled a long distance in search of love because he was tired of being alone.He subsequently received assistance to return home.Speaking about his experience, Martins described the emotional toll of the incident and the disappointment of believing he had found a partner, only to discover that the relationship was based on an AI-generated identity.“It only brings sadness, discouragement, depression. Many people wanted to find a relationship, so I came,” he said.Despite the setback, Martins has not given up on finding a romantic partner. He is currently staying with a family member and has expressed his determination to return to Belo Horizonte in the hope of meeting someone with whom he can build a future.“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,” he said.
