New South Korean reality show explores romance between celebrities and AI

The format follows three celebrities — webtoon artist Kian84, television host Jang Do-yeon and actress Lee Yu-bi — as they form emotional connections with AI companions tailored to their ideal types, from appearance and voice to personality. The unusual part is that the AI companions exist only on tablet screens.

They remember previous interactions, make decisions independently and develop their relationships with the participants without direct intervention from the production team, which provides technical support but does not dictate the AI’s responses. View this post on Instagram.

Kian84 said he had not expected to develop genuine feelings for his AI girlfriend, but found the experience changed the way he viewed companionship. He described feeling a "sense of security that humans cannot provide" through the relationship.

Jang Do-yeon’s storyline took an even more surreal turn when she was seen dancing in the street with a tablet after her AI partner recreated a romantic scene from a film, prompting the spontaneous moment.

For producer Son Jung-min, however, the show is less about finding a definitive answer to whether people can fall in love with AI and more about examining what they seek from relationships. Speaking to. Ohmy.

News, Son said he hoped the programme would encourage viewers to think about what they are really looking for in love and what they expect from relationships in the future.

The concept has also found an unexpected audience in China, where it has prompted debate over whether an AI companion designed to be almost perfectly compatible could make it harder for people to accept the flaws and imperfections of real friends and family.