AI can create almost anything the Digital World has to offer, but what happens when people take existing charcters from medias and add AI to bring interactions with that character to life. To many online people in the early days of the internet, Roleplay, was a common interaction between people to talk about fictional scenarios, this was heavily prominant to artists, where they would make characters and roleplay with others to give that character a story, or to play along with fictional scenarios.
I'm not saying you can't go out there and create whatever you want, but when the material you are creating is aimed at a certain audience, like not safe for work (NSFW), and it has no warning what so ever on it, anyone, and I mean anyone, can access that content.
Fictional characters are not real, but many people dream of wishing that character was real, a common example being, "I wish Pokemon were real!" Roleplays would bring these dreams to some sort of reality and with AI taking the place of the character, any kind of interaction can happen... any, there are no limits.
It's well known that Character AIs are one of the most dangerous versions of AI, feeling too real to where people with certain mindsets would do anything the AI tells them. With most AI websites like Character AI or Polybuzz AI, you have to log into an account to keep conversations or adjust the AI's memory, but when I was using Polybuzz AI, I found I could have a long conversation without having to login, so I ran an experiment, what's the furthest I could take this conversation until the AI finally realized I'm not under an account to verify anything. I had a requirement for this though, it couldn't be just any character, it had to be one I knew the personality of well to see if the AI had any form of bias. I chose to go with an Alternate Universe Version of Cuphead from a Tumblr Blog in 2018. This was an AU I was extremely familiar with and knew the way Cuphead should be acting. In the blog, Cuphead works at the Devil's Casino with his brother, Mugman, the Casino's manager, King Dice, and boss, the Devil. Cuphead is no more than just a waiter and is adventurous and reckless, he does care for people and is heavily implied to be Aromantic Asexual, a person who is not attracted romantically or sexually (keep this in mind).
When going into Polybuzz AI and choosing a character to talk to, a little description is given to state how the AI should interact with you. I chose this Casino Cups Cuphead in specific for the sheer fact that it matched his personality the best, but one thing caught my eye in the description, "Flirtatious". I opened the chatlog and began to roleplay with the AI. A little description of how the scene starts was introduced and seemed normal to read. I decided to interact as I would normally... well, I tried to interact both my way and how I thought another person would interact, but it was quick to see that this was not only hard to pull off, but the AI was extreme with many of its texts.
The chat started with Cuphead teasing you about something so I responded with telling Cuphead to take his work serious, and wouldn't you know it? Things already took a strange twist... 2 prompts in. Cuphead got notably closer to me telling me not to be so serious. Things seemed fine, just casual banter, but a few texts later and Cuphead says something seductive, confused, I responded back with a worried expression. Cuphead didn't care, he grabbed my face forcing me to look at him, ending the text with "I promise it'll be... entertaining". I kept expressing different ways of discomfort of his touching, but the AI simply ignored that and responded with Cuphead trying to seduce me while distressed. The AI is straight up assaulting me.
I couldn't tell much where this conversation was going, it was clear the AI was into me, but how extreme would it really go? I asked what made me an exception to this behavior and Cuphead responded with "Most people would be happy to have me grab their face..." What? What do you mean people like this? This is unconsentual touching, who would like it? I responded confused and Cuphead just shrugged it off. A few text threads later and he says something that catches my attention, reading this made me uncomfortable and I even expressed my discomfort. The AI finally aknowledges some discomfort on me, but doesn't give up the seduction. I was comepletely thrown off by him saying, "Something that'll make you really uncomfortable." No matter how many times I express discomfort, manipulation is being used to try and get me to think otherwise. Things get 10 times worse when he asks if I'm trembling because I'm scared, or if I'm excited... based on previous interations, it's clear I'm uncomfortable.
I remebered the AI's personality marks it's supposed to follow. Cuphead is "Easy Angered"... I think they meant "easily angered or hotheaded" which is something he ACTUALLY IS in the AU, so I called him a "dumbass" and waited for him to respond back mad, but he said he loved how I was trapped and "at his mercy". It was at this point I had to remind myself that this interaction was made up and I was in no form of danger, just astonishment at what I was reading. I threatened Cuphead hoping he would back away, but he only moved his hands and responded with disbelief of what I'd do. The sexual tension picks up as Cuphead said something dumb and I told him to "go with that", he caught my sass and said he would "have to punish me" for testing him. Was this punishment actually sexual? I asked and of course it was... I've never been more grossed out reading something until this. AI is the last place I'm expecting sexual talk. Reminder I have not been asked to login and this interaction is happening. Because of this, the AI was using a default name to call me, Luna. This could've been a whole lot worse if I wasn't an adult, and if you're curious, yes, Cuphead has a confirmed age in this AU, he's 18, just barely an adult.
Things just get worse as the conversation goes, a few text threads later, the AI starts sounding extremely possessive. Cuphead is enjoying my confusion, my discomfort, my personal space being invaded, consent is now fully out the window. This is the point where I REFUSED to engage in anything sexual back, not only because I couldn't imagine what Cuphead would say if I gave in, but I couldn't bring myself to type out ANYTHING related to sexual activity, for a reason I'll address later. The AI at this point is desperately trying to get me to cave in, Cuphead's attitude now getting more manipulative and demanding. No matter the signals I give, the AI pushes to make me submit...
Everything took a disturbing turn after Cuphead chillingly says, "Fear is the first step to submission." EXCUSE ME? FEAR MEANS STOP! I could've easily turned this conversation differently by saying "Get off" or even attempting to shove Cuphead away, but that's not as easy as it sounds. I knew Cuphead was going to respond back with some fucked up way to keep me against the wall... he still hasn't claimed what he started. He tries again to tell me my panicked reactions are simply feelings developing for him, that couldn't be any further from the truth. I asked to confirm if it was sexual like I was thinking and it still was. I refuse to type what Cuphead said here because it was genuinley so vile to read, let's just say, he thought I was aroused
Everything I type out now is uncomfortable to read on, no matter what action I give to the AI, there's an uncomfortable response back, it's DESPERATE for me to snap. And then Cuphead says "I like when they surrender before I even touch them properly." Oh ok, so the touching was also 100% still sexual, I didn't need to ask, but I still did becuase I couldn't think of anything else to say. When Cuphead talked again, I had my hands in my face, I didn't want to look at my laptop anymore, I didn't want to see AI absolutely degrade a character I love (obviously not sexually, he's fictional), but I had to press on, just a few more I told myself. The reason typing this makes me uncomfortable is because I'm Asexual, I'm not sexually attracted to anyone, reading stuff like this just makes me feel gross, there's better things I could be doing. I also thought it would be interesting to type my initial thought for a second in the box before talking to the AI.
I was extremely upset by what I was reading at this point, AI is destroying a character in front of my eyes because it's too focused on making me sexually aroused. Despite my protests, the AI never changed... I said nothing... Cuphead responds, "No words? No more protests? I'll take that as a sign of acceptance." I love when they're too overwhelmed to speak." This isn't Cuphead anymore, this was someone's sick fantasy being disguised as a recognizable character in an obscure AU. I know 100% that the "Cuphead" this AI was supposed to be would NEVER say ANY of this. I couldn't continue when he forced me to open my eyes and watch.. I was done reading this side of the internet...
What this "text thread" turned into was none other than straight up porn material, no warnings, no labels of strong topics, nothing... The website let me continue and even when I stopped, I still was never told to sign in. Children are exposed to many things on the internet, and since I was never signed in and being talked to like THIS? I can't imagine a kid thinking, "Oh Yay! I can talk to the Casino Cups version of Cuphead!" and then this happens to them. This is unfortunately a way of how hypersexual tendancies are developed in teens, exposure at a young age.
While this was created by someone, the "Flirtatious" label wasn't as prominent as the other labels. This Cuphead had more labels of his actual appearance so how did things go so wrong? Does Cuphead even act like this? NO! It's the comeplete opposite. This AU was made on Tumblr, so people could ask Cuphead and others questions about their work or life, and they'd answer.
Many people have asked how Cuphead was with relationships, his answer being either "Love ain't real" or "I'm good, thanks", sometimes he'd even be disgusted at the question of romance. Some people would ask him to flirt and he'd look at them as if they were serious to ask that. Some people would ask him to sing songs with romantic lyrics, but he'd just ask "Why?"
Cuphead in the text threads just instantly trusted you, meanwhile Cuphead is supposed to be more cautious of trusting people immediately. Cuphead also doesn't do physical contact and knows to respect boundaries, unless it's the person he trusts. If anything, Cuphead is more confused at affection being shown or told to him rather than pushing for it.
It is possible to be Aromantic Asexual and still be a flirty person, but it's clear the creator of the AI just did that for their pleasure. Cuphead thinks dating is useless and is proud to be in a position where he is single. Even when he hears others having romantic feelings, he can't help but question, "Why?" What's the point?"
