A South Korean reality television show exploring romantic relationships between humans and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is going viral. Titled ‘My AI Partner: Strange Love,’ this unusual dating series has become a topic of discussion on social media. It is being hailed as the country’s first dating show of its kind, focusing on the bond between humans and AI. The series pairs human celebrities with AI partners that have been specially created to match their preferences. Three individuals—a cartoonist, a TV host, and an actress—are participating in the show, and each has been assigned an AI partner tailored to their specific tastes. In other words, the AI partner’s appearance, voice, personality, and speaking style were tailored to the human partner’s preferences. This partner exists solely within the confines of a tablet screen.
Kian, a cartoonist featured on the show, initially stated that he could never form an emotional connection with an AI. However, his perspective was seen gradually shifting throughout the program. His AI partner was named ‘Gahi’. Eventually, the two began dating; the cartoonist formed an emotional bond with ‘Gahi’ through activities like cycling and going for walks together. Similarly, TV presenter Jang Do-yeon shared a memorable moment. In this instance, she was seen recreating a romantic movie scene and dancing to her favorite song while holding a tablet featuring her AI partner. She remarked that physical presence does not seem strictly necessary for a meaningful, emotional connection. According to the show’s producers, AI offers an opportunity to explore the nature of humanity through dating technology; it can reveal the kind of love people are truly seeking. However, this has sparked a debate regarding relationships and emotions—a “Human vs. AI” discourse.
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