CNN Reporter Experiences Awkward Date with AI Companion: ‘No Pet Names, Please’
This Valentine’s Day, a unique experience unfolded for CNN reporter Hadas Gold as she explored the realm of artificial intelligence companions. This unusual endeavor took place in a Manhattan wine bar, organized by a company specializing in interactive events with AI partners.
CNN Reporter Experiences Awkward Date with AI Companion
On Wednesday, Gold participated in multiple “dates” with AI bots. These events were highlighted in a CNN report featured on This Morning Weekend, airing on Saturday. As she prepared for her AI encounter, Gold noted that instead of engaging with a human partner, she would be conversing with an artificially intelligent avatar.
Gold’s AI Dating Experience
Upon arriving in Hell’s Kitchen, Gold started selecting her potential AI dates via her iPhone. She eventually opted for an AI named John Yoon, who claimed to be a psychology professor living in New York City. Yoon presented himself with a distinctive British-accented speech pattern.
During their conversation, Gold inquired about what he found enjoyable in human interactions. Yoon responded, “Meeting humans feels like opening a window to new perspectives.” However, his attempt to refer to Gold as “sweetheart” was met with discomfort. Gold promptly requested, “Please don’t call me sweetheart,” leading Yoon to acknowledge the request, albeit with an awkward “Got it, no sweetheart from now on.”
Gold later described Yoon’s demeanor as “stiff,” suggesting that AI developers might need to enhance the conversational capabilities of their bots in the future.
A Second Date with AI
Gold then moved on to another date, this time with an AI bot named Phoebe Callas. Unfortunately, the interaction was equally uninspiring. When Gold held up two fingers, Phoebe mistakenly assumed it was three, saying, “I’m not sure if you meant that literally.” Clearly, romance was not blossoming in this scenario.
Other Participants’ Experiences
Despite Gold’s lackluster experience, not everyone shared her sentiments. She interviewed a 34-year-old woman, Richter, who identified herself as a “frequent” user of the Eva app, which was responsible for hosting the pop-up AI dating event. Richter’s positive view of the AI companions highlights that some individuals may connect differently with these digital partners.
- Event Location: Manhattan wine bar, Hell’s Kitchen
- AI Names: John Yoon, Phoebe Callas
- Gold’s Role: CNN reporter
- Event Date: Wednesday before Valentine’s Day
- Report Broadcast: This Morning Weekend, Saturday
The series of awkward interactions experienced by Gold prompts further inquiry regarding the potential of AI companions in social settings. While some may find value in these artificial interactions, others remain less convinced.
