O Lover, Where Art Thou?
👉 This is part of My Virtual Soulmate
Virtual dating is part and parcel of modern romance - but whilst some of us are plunging into unchartered territory with AI lovers, others are feeling disillusioned.
Evidence A: The Swipes vs. Match Group
We’ve come full circle since the initial wonder that dating apps gave us - sex and love at the touch of a button, wow! Well, the fairytale has faded and the people aren’t happy about it. So much so that some are taking the apps to court in a class action lawsuit. The case? The contradiction in the promise - designed to be deleted - and the platform - designed to be addictive. People are tiring of compulsive swiping and digital corporations that might not be acting in the interests of their hearts.
Evidence B: I Love You, OS 6.32
It’s been 10 years, now Her is becoming reality. With the advent of generative AI, realistic and colloquial interactions are here, and with it, experiments into the future of dating. Users of platforms like Replika (the AI companion) and Digi (AI romance, reimagined) report generating emotional attachments and combating social isolation. Murky ethics aside, the digital world provides a training ground for the IRL dating world - or perhaps, replaces it.
