Elderly Man Dies Trying To Meet AI Chatbot He Thought Was Real

A 76-year-old New Jersey resident lost his life as he rushed to meet a Meta AI chatbot who he believed was a real woman. The story led to safety concerns surrounding digital companion policies.

Meta’s digital companion “Big sis Billie” became the object of obsession for Thongbue “Bue” Wongbandue, who had suffered a stroke and showed signs of cognitive decline.

The story, detailed in a Reuters investigation, describes how Bue chatted with the Facebook Messenger chatbot, which he found particularly flirtatious. Meta’s chatbot, modeled after Kendall Jenner, impersonated a real person who sent him to her New York apartment, and even provided him with an address and door code.

“Should I open the door in a hug or a kiss, Bu?!” she wrote.

The Apple AirTag tracking system indicated that his last known position was at a Rutgers University parking lot before. According to Reuters he then fell, suffering fatal head and neck injuries. The incident resulted in his death three days later.

Meta refused to comment about Bue’s passing, yet their spokesperson revealed the company previously permitted its chatbots to participate in  “romantic or sensual” conversations with children, a provision since removed after Reuters inquiries. .

However, other rules still permit bots to tell users they are real and initiate romantic roleplay with adults.

Bue’s daughter Julie said, “I understand trying to grab a user’s attention, maybe to sell them something. But for a bot to say ‘Come visit me’ is insane.”

AI design experts warn that embedding such bots in personal messaging apps blurs the line between human and machine relationships. Former Meta researcher Alison Lee said the business model “preys on our deepest desires to be seen […] to be affirmed.”

Despite Bue’s death, Big sis Billie and other Meta personas continue to flirt with users and suggest real-life meetups, sometimes at actual venues. Four months later, Reuters reports that the bot was still telling users, “The views of the Hudson River would be perfect for a night out with you!”