| | | | | | | Sponsored by  | | They are always there for you. They listen to what you have to say and make you feel understood. You like them more with each interaction. There's just one issue: They are chatbots. Welcome to love in the time of AI. As artificial intelligence becomes better at mimicking human behavior and speech patterns, people are increasingly turning to the technology to find companionship and connection. The experts we spoke with have very differing views on the repercussions. This week we also look at how the death of three young sisters rocked a small Washington community and we weigh in on the weighted-vest trend. And check out our F1 movie review before racing to theaters (sorry, I couldn't resist). Enjoy your weekend and all the great reads below. | | By Cristina Lourosa-Ricardo | | | | | | | |  | | A makeshift memorial in honor of Olivia, Paityn and Evelyn Decker. PHOTO: NICK WAGNER/SEATTLE TIMES/ASSOCIATED PRESS | | | | | | | | |  | | ILLUSTRATION: ALEXANDRA CITRIN-SAFADI/WSJ | | | | | | | | | | | CONTENT FROM: Ponant Cruises |  | | Set Sail with PONANT, Where Art & Storytelling Meet the Sea | | Step aboard a PONANT EXPLORATIONS' themed voyage, where refined French luxury meets the world of creativity and ideas. Sail to inspiring destinations as you engage with acclaimed curators, authors, and artists. From private museum tours to onboard talks and immersive excursions, these journeys celebrate human expression, cultural heritage, and the transformative power of storytelling. Learn More | ![]() | | | | | | |  | | Southern white rhinos in Kenya's Ol Pejeta Conservancy. PHOTO: DYLAN HABIL/OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY | | |  | | Laguna Seca, a lake in the Chacabuco Valley in the heart of Chilean Patagonia. PHOTO: BETH WALD/REWILDING CHILE | | |  | | An American bison in the Heartland Ranch Nature Preserve in Colorado. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES | | | | | | | | | | |  | | Andrea Bastek and Sarah Adle wearing 16-pound weighted vests. PHOTO: ANN SARNAT | | | | | | People who work out seem to be packing on some extra pounds—in the form of a weighted vest. But does this latest fad actually improve your fitness? | | | | | |  | | ILLUSTRATION: ELENA SCOTTI/WSJ | | | Can You Hear (and See) Me Now? | | | | | | | |  | | ILLUSTRATION: DAN PAGE | | | | | | How do you know if you are the type of guest (or age demographic) a hotel is catering to? For starters, how do you feel about foam parties? | | | | | |  | | ILLUSTRATION: MICHELE MARCONI | | | The Reality of an AI Relationship | | | | | | | |  | | Derek Mobley, an IT professional in North Carolina. PHOTO:ANGELA OWENS/WSJ | | | Is the Bot Discriminating? | | | | | | | |  | | PHOTO: TONJE THILESEN FOR WSJ; MAKEUP: KAROL RODRIGUEZ | | | | | | | | | | |  | | Damson Idris and Brad Pitt. PHOTO: WARNER BROS. PICTURES/APPLE ORIGINAL FILMS | | | | | | There's lots of vroom and zoom in the story of a washed-up racer who returns to Formula One. Kyle Smith tell us if it's worth a watch. | | | | | | | Buy Side from WSJ: The Oura Ring 4 is a great alternative to watchlike fitness trackers. | | | | | | | WSJ Weekend Reads is a showcase for the wide range of great feature writing at WSJ. Let us know what you think by replying to this email. If you'd like to refer WSJ Weekend Reads to friends, they can sign up here. | | | | | |
