Brazilian bricklayer travels 1,200 miles to meet AI-generated persona

Edimar Rocha Martins, a 49-year-old bricklayer from Imperatriz, Maranhão, traveled over 2,000 kilometers to Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, only to discover that the woman he intended to marry was an artificial intelligence-generated character.

Martins reported that he had been in contact with a social media profile known as ‘Jéssica Fazendeira’ (or Jéssica Oliveira) since 2020. The persona, which boasted over 300,000 followers, posted realistic videos promising a life of comfort on a farm. To fund the journey, Martins sold his personal belongings.

Upon arriving in Belo Horizonte, Martins found no trace of the woman. After running out of money, he sought assistance from the Belo Horizonte City Hall, which provided food, shelter, and a bus ticket for his return journey to Araguatins, Tocantins.

The account administrator later released a video stating the profile was created using AI solely to generate engagement and monetization for TikTok Shop, denying any personal interaction with Martins.