AI chatbot dates are now happening at a New York café

A Hell's Kitchen wine bar hosted an event where patrons brought phones and tablets to 'date' AI companions from the EvaAI app, and organizers said the effort aimed to destigmatize AI relationships while not replacing human connections.

A wine bar in Hell's Kitchen hosted an event where patrons were invited to sit with phones or tablets and interact with AI companions as if on a date. The evening used the EvaAI app to enable video and text chats, and many attendees propped devices on stands and used headphones. Organizers described the event as an attempt to make AI relationships less stigmatized and more understandable. Some attendees were media and influencers, while a smaller number were regular users who said they already use AI companions for friendship, roleplay or romance. Key details: - The event took place at Same Same Wine Bar in Hell's Kitchen and featured patrons using the EvaAI app to video- or text-chat with AI characters. - Julia Momblat, head of partnerships at EvaAI, said the goal was to destigmatize AI relationships and that the app is intended to support people rather than replace human relationships. - Many attendees appeared to be media, influencers or tech-curious visitors; a handful of regular users attended, including a 34-year-old woman who described capping her AI use at three hours a day and using AI companions for confidence and roleplay. - The article cites wider figures reported as of last October: about 28% of American adults reported at least one romantic encounter with AI, and the Reddit community r/myboyfriendisAI had roughly 48,000 users. - Among younger people, the article reports that about 42% of high schoolers said they use AI for companionship and about 1 in 5 said they or someone they know has a romantic relationship with AI. - The EvaAI app offers a swipe-style interface to browse characters and a paid option to customize a partner's appearance and personality. Summary: The event shows some companies are creating public spaces where people can bring AI companions into real-world settings while emphasizing these tools are not substitutes for human relationships. EvaAI said it may expand similar events to other cities, but broader social adoption and long-term effects are undetermined at this time.