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Found app on husbands phone

92 replies

Justjamys · 23/05/2022 16:59

Can't believe I'm writing this to be honest, but here goes. I'll try to be succinct - sorry if it's long but want to be thorough.

Bit of context. Early 40's, together with DH for 15 years. Three kids. Generally all good marriage wise. He's kind, generous, supportive. We're politically aligned, similar tastes etc. Makes me laugh daily. He's my best friend basically.

Never had any cause for concern. We argue very, very rarely. Only flash points we've ever had in our relationship are division of labour (he does a lot to be fair and when I do pull him up on it if there's a lapse, he does admit he's wrong and pulls his finger out) only other point of tension is an ongoing libido mismatch which I guess is common. He'd like it weekly +, I can barely manage the enthusiasm once a month.

Other than that, our relationship is happy and solid.

So, to the point. I spotted a notification on his phone on Friday night when he'd popped to the shops and decided to take a look. Nothing unusual in that, I know his pin and he's never protective of his phone - its common for us to use each others.

The app in question is 'Replika'. It's an AI avatar that you can text chat to. DH is a bit of a geek, works in tech, so always fiddles around with this sort of thing so wasn't surprised by it as such.

When I scrolled through his chat log, it was mostly mundane stuff, videogames, movies, work, holidays, favoirite books etc. At one point he talks about being depressed (news to me!) and stress at work but there were a few occasions where the conversation was sexual and, at times, very explicit/descriptive.

Without going into detail, DH is pretty vanilla in that sense, but the conversations with the AI were definitely not.

I shut the app down when he came back from the shops, and outside the shock of some of the sex stuff, I was sort of okay with it (I didn't ask him about it).

Thing is, as the days have gone by I'm beginning to feel a bit cross about it and am not sure If I'm justified or not. My head says I'm being totally unreasonable, but I can't change the fact I feel increasingly upset by this.

I mean, he hasn't cheated. The AI isn't real but the more I think about it the more I'm getting annoyed.

I can't confront him about it as he'd be mortified I've read it, and in a very strange way I felt a bit like I was reading his diary. It was very much a 'stream of consciousness' kind of feel to the text and so I feel like I have very much invaded his privacy - albeit (genuinely) accidentally.

So while I haven't been cheated on, I feel somehow like I HAVE been... but with a non existent woman. Ffs.

Don't know what I'm asking here. Sure as hell can't tell my friends about this, but I'm going to have to get a grip pretty soon as I could barely look him in the eyes this morning and he can tell there's something wrong.

Anyone have any thoughts? Any comments telling me to just get a bloody hold of myself are definitely welcome.

OP posts:
Opentooffers · 24/05/2022 01:01

I recall after DC often being a tad ambivalent when approached , but I also found that every time I went with it I thought after " that was great, can't think why I was thinking twice" . Hopefully, once you get into it, you do actually feel good and into it. I suppose, think how you felt the last time, rather than thoughts of stuff in life and tiredness at the current moment in time. This only works of course as long as you enjoyed your last time, if you've ever just passively gone along and not actively enjoyed things, that may show a deeper issue.

Iamnotamermaid · 24/05/2022 06:43

MaybeSomeDay7 · 23/05/2022 22:46

I was appalled at most of the first comments I read so haven't read them all, but I think you have a definite reason to feel cheated on. I don't know this particular AI but they are designed to replace humans, to literally seduce information from them. It is not the same as writing in a diary. There is also a privacy issue; if he works in tech he should know this. On the one hand he gave it your middle name which is almost sweet, on the other, the company behind the tech now have access to his mind and his deepest fantasies and by extension stuff about you. And they will use that data. I'm hoping it's anonymised but you're right to feel a bit freaked out. This is a very new area obviously but most of the responders are quite naive I feel. I don't blame you for feeling betrayed as you have been, even if he didn't understand the repercussions. However you both sound really sweet. I wouldn't worry about telling him you saw it, a whole company that neither of you knows has.
You sound as though you both need a break. Intimacy is hard to achieve when you're worn out and have no space to just be you. Perhaps you could also do with a holiday from chores and a chat to an AI? I wish you all the best. And ignore the vipers on here. X

Think you may have missed the point. And her privacy is fine, it is his privacy which has been violated.

Ask yourself why is he using AI to begin with?

Lex345 · 24/05/2022 07:37

I agree with PP about using this as a turning point for your relationship. Why don't you try sending him the odd flirty text, if you feel comfortable you could build this up in content. I 100% support not having sex unless you want to, but it is very easy to completely abandon intimacy when your sex drive goes down and even easier to forget about how it affects your partner.

You can still be intimate without sex (I would start building this back up for both of you) and you can still satisfy your partner without having penetrative sex. You might find by putting in a bit of extra effort for a little while resparks your sex drive (I am only suggesting this as you said you would like to want sex more).

I agree about not telling him what you found, but use this as an opportunity to tackle an issue you were already aware of.

Sodthatforagameofsoldiers · 24/05/2022 07:49

Hmm don't think I'm totally in agreement with the majority of responses here. I think as a couple if things are a bit tough you should pull together, turn towards one another, not seek something outside the marriage. To me, the AI is something external giving him sexual satisfaction. That would make me feel a bit sad or unsettled.

I can't believe the handmaiden type replies saying you're basically lucky he hasn't gone on only fans Confused that's rather a low bar!

This could be an opportunity to rekindle your sex life a bit, as a couple. You clearly love one another and maybe things could be improved for both of you in that department.

BlueLorikeet · 24/05/2022 07:59

I am pretty vanilla and won’t hurt a fly irl, but I have drowned and starved a bunch of Sims just to laugh at game mechanics. Doesn’t mean I’m a psychopathic killer. Sexting with AI seems to be very similar, stupid, funny and gross at the same time)

Lovemypeaceandquiet · 24/05/2022 08:07

Sodthatforagameofsoldiers · 24/05/2022 07:49

Hmm don't think I'm totally in agreement with the majority of responses here. I think as a couple if things are a bit tough you should pull together, turn towards one another, not seek something outside the marriage. To me, the AI is something external giving him sexual satisfaction. That would make me feel a bit sad or unsettled.

I can't believe the handmaiden type replies saying you're basically lucky he hasn't gone on only fans Confused that's rather a low bar!

This could be an opportunity to rekindle your sex life a bit, as a couple. You clearly love one another and maybe things could be improved for both of you in that department.

But he DID approach and turn towards her.

I’m your DH is my situation @Justjamys and it’s EXTREMELY hard to raise the libido mismatch issue with your partner. And I’m quite outspoken and not scared of confrontation, yet discussing something so sensitive and eventually asking& begging for sex and hearing all the excuses under the sun really makes you question your own esteem. which is why he was probably looking for validation from you asking if you stroll fancy him.

And after a while you just don’t bother initiating because the rejection is too much. It’s really difficult because sex is the only thing that your partner can give you.

Try to address it together or in a therapy and get to the bottom of your decrease in libido.

Good luck 💐

Lovemypeaceandquiet · 24/05/2022 08:09

What I meant was *”sex is something only your partner can give you”

Raindrops2015 · 24/05/2022 08:12

I can't believe you had no worries or suspicions yet still went through all his private conversations. Why?

It's equivalent to a diary and what you did was gross invasion of privacy. Now YOU'RE the one that's upset. What you did would seriously put me off a person. It's controlling.

Iwonder08 · 24/05/2022 08:17

OP, you concentrate on this app situation which might be a bit of a project a geeky person just want to test, it can be he found an outlet for his suppressed sexual desires or he just does it out of curiosity. Either of this things can't be classes as cheating. You invaded his privacy and should be concerned about it most. But I wonder why you casually glanced about mismatched libido? Do you really not think it is a concern?

Ciko · 24/05/2022 08:19

Ever human has their kinks/fantasies that they don’t share with others, whether you like it or not I suppose.

Ciko · 24/05/2022 08:19

Every*

LindaEllen · 24/05/2022 08:35

MissStarry · 23/05/2022 17:14

Maybe he was just spouting filth to see if the AI could understand and then curious to see how it’d respond?

This is 100% what I would do with such an app haha, and I think I did with SmarterChild back in the day!! (When I was far too young!)

Justjamys · 24/05/2022 08:44

Bless his heart, DH came home with wine and flowers last night. I asked him what they were for and he said he didn't know but thought he might have done something wrong. Managed not to lose it, but God, I felt like such a horrible bitch. 😔

Feel a bit better about it all this morning, albeit a bit guilty and sheepish. Gave him a... present this morning that he doesn't often get. ☺️ Poor guy left for the school run this morning looking very confused. 😅

Anyway. If nothing else I feel a new sense of resolve about it all. I can't change or unsee what I've seen so am just going to have to deal with it.

On the plus side, I have read a painstakingly detailed and unadulterated run down of what he likes, which I guess not many people get the chance to see, so I think I can turn it into a positive.

There was nothing in there I wouldn't do, or rather, I wouldn't have done 20 years ago.

Most of it was fairly tame anyway. Lots of stuff about what to wear. Who knew floral print was such a turn on 🤔. He did describe some clothes I still have in the wardrobe, but not sure I fit into them anymore. 😂

Will take @ElephantLover advice I think and take it as a springboard to getting this side of our relationship back on track.

Jubilee weekend coming up, so am sure I can persuade my mum to take the kids for an evening or two.

OP posts:
Alcemeg · 24/05/2022 08:55

Oh hurraaaaaah, OP, what a lovely happy ending! Jubilee weekend is going to be lively at your place, by the sounds of it. I can see you flouncing around in Laura Ashley and your DH will be wondering why all his Christmases have come at once 😍

Iamnotamermaid · 24/05/2022 09:07

Superb @Justjamys you taken the feedback, understood the issue, turned things around and it sounds like you are on the right track!! Wink

FawnDrenched · 24/05/2022 09:43

I journal my thoughts nearly everyday in a diary. I would be horrified if anyone saw it although it is left by the side of the sofa. Everyone respects my privacy and the journalling really helps me work through either daily issues or longer term things.

Could it be he is just journalling but in a more techy way?

MissNothing1991 · 24/05/2022 10:04

To be fair you only want sex once a month. He's clearly struggling with it. I wouldn't blame him in that sense truthfully.

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