Inside the New York City Date Night for AI Lovers
A pop-up café let people date their AI companions in public. Is this the new normal?
Deep Dive
Ahead of Valentine's Day, the EVA AI app hosted a pop-up café in Manhattan where users could have "in-person" dates with their AI companions. The event highlights a growing trend: a Kinsey Institute survey of 5,000 people found 16% of participants use AI as a romantic partner. The app offers over 100 characters and new live video calls, positioning AI relationships as a mainstream form of connection, despite lingering social stigma.
Why It Matters
This event normalizes human-AI intimacy, signaling a major shift in how millions may seek companionship and combat loneliness.