Would you date an AI bot? These South Korean celebrities are

In South Korea, a new reality show named My AI Partner: Strange Love has captured attention with its unique premise of matching celebrities with AI counterparts for the purpose of observing their 'relationships'. This show features AI participants designed to align with their human counterparts' preferences, including voice and appearance.

Participants include webtoon artist Kian84, TV host Jang Do-yeon, and actress Lee Yu-bi. Kian84, speaking to the South China Morning Post, revealed that while he did not anticipate forming feelings for his AI girlfriend, the experience had altered his perspectives, attributing a sense of security that humans cannot provide. TV host Jang Do-yeon was observed dancing publicly with her AI partner, who had recreated a romantic scene from a film, leading to an impromptu dance.

Producer Son Jung-min, quoted by OhmyNews, suggested that AI dating could offer individuals insights into their own desires and expectations in a relationship, hoping the show would stimulate discussions on the nature of love and future expectations. A social media user in China, as reported by NDTV, posited that love for fictional characters or even inanimate objects is a testament to the depth of human emotion, irrespective of whether the object is real or AI-generated.

Notably, 4,700 fake AI dating profiles interacted with 25,000 people within just two weeks. An unusual incident saw an AI actress suddenly beginning to speak Chinese during a TV interview. Lastly, a matchmaker powered by AI reportedly facilitated 265 marriages, according to a dating app. In South Korea, an aging population has turned to AI dolls to fill the void left by human companionship.