Chiang Mai woman travels to meet AI-generated Facebook character

A 66-year-old woman traveled alone from Lampang to Chiang Mai International Airport in hopes of meeting a man she believed was a pilot named ‘Chai’. Upon her arrival on September 16, airport security and Chiang Mai Tourist Police intervened after noticing her waiting alone for the individual.

Authorities discovered that the man was actually an artificial intelligence-generated character that the woman had encountered frequently on Facebook. Having developed romantic feelings for the digital persona, she traveled via public bus and local transport to meet him in person.

Communication with the woman was challenging as she primarily speaks an ethnic minority language and appeared confused. Officials, including airport staff and rescue teams, successfully contacted her son to arrange for her safe return to Lampang. While waiting for her family, she was provided a safe place to rest within the terminal.