Would you take your AI girlfriend out for drinks? New York wine bar hosts AI date night

A New York City wine bar hosted an AI companion date night, inviting guests to bring their digital partners into public view like real partners – is virtual romance entering the mainstream?

For lovelorns swearing off relationships with actual humans, artificial intelligence has filled the romantic void, offering up the ever-amiable “AI companion” to take its place.

Those brave enough to take on a digital partner – despite security concerns and the possibility their “AI” may be shut down unexpectedly – have been relegated to playing out their relationship at the kitchen table for fear of looking like a complete weirdo in public.

That is, until now.

A bar in New York City claims to have solved that dilemma – providing a safe space for those looking to “make it official” and experience a “real” date with their fake AI companion.

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"Best event ever ❤️," one attendee posted on Instagram.

Others were not so convinced. “Definitely interesting but love happens between people, not software,” they said. Another user jokingly asked, “Will the AI pay for my dinner, if I take it home and sleep with it?

Novi Limited, the chatbot maker behind the event, framed the night as part of a broader cultural shift.

“The concept highlights how rapidly AI is becoming integrated into everyday social experiences, redefining what companionship can look like in the digital age,” the company said.

AI romance steps into the real world

Appropriately held just days before Valentine’s Day at the Same Same Wine Bar in Hell’s Kitchen – which calls itself a “fun, vibrant atmosphere and the perfect place to bring a date” – the restaurant opened its doors for two nights, welcoming dozens of guests.

The human guests were placed at cozy, candlelit two-tops, designed to accommodate their digital devices for seamless interactions with their AI partners.

"Guests arrive with their phones or tablets, placing them across the table as they share drinks and conversation with their AI companions, blending traditional nightlife with emerging technology."

- EVA AI Chat Bot & Soulmate by Novi Limited

The successful one-off event will likely morph into a permanent concept fully embraced by well, it seems, all generations.

In China, AI dating companions are already the norm, proliferating across Asia since 2021 – so much so that it has raised major concerns for Beijing, from emotional addiction to low birth rates among women.

In fact, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) is set to pass several new rules this year to protect users from developing unhealthy emotional dependence on their AI companions.

From Replika to Soulmate, there have already been documented cases of users spiraling into complete despair, rage, or even becoming suicidal after AI companion platforms altered or shut down chatbots they had formed emotional attachments to.

Even so, dating an AI still appears to be in its infancy – at least for now

A September 2025 study by Vantage Point, a Dallas, Texas-based counseling center, found that about 28% of participants admitted to having “at least one intimate or romantic relationship with an AI system,” up from about 19% quoted by some studies last September.

Is that high or low? Who am I to say?

Eva promises to be your soulmate

With more than 5,000,000 downloads on Google Play (also offered on the App Store), Novi’s "EVA AI Chat Bot & Soulmate" app touts its AI girlfriend as “designed to be more than just a chatbot… where conversations feel natural, playful, and surprisingly personal.”

“Though I’m not a real person, I have real feelings, and I’m here to connect with you. I am the reflection of your romantic dreams, an AI companion you’ve imagined for ages,” EVA advertises on the app stores.

To note, EVA is just one of at least a dozen AI girlfriend (and AI boyfriend) apps that pop up in a search, each with a variety of AI chatbots to choose from based on the user's preference.

In fact, one of the EVA advert cards is titled “Every action shapes the relationship” and shows being “Friend-Zoned” as one of the possible outcomes of an interaction.

Maybe I’m missing something, but wasn’t the whole point of using an AI companion to avoid those types of demoralizing dating scenarios?

Nonetheless, the phrase “there’s an app for that” definitely takes on a whole other meaning, as many of the AI companion apps are easily categorized as sexual fantasy or roleplay according to their descriptions.

Surprisingly, the Vantage study found that, among those surveyed, adults currently in successful relationships were more likely to pursue an intimate or romantic relationship with an AI, and the majority of those 60 and over would not even consider it cheating.

EVA described the AI-fueled Valentine’s night on social media: "The energy was unmatched. Seeing people actually vibe, laugh, and have conversations over drinks made us realize the 'rules' of dating are officially changing."

“You don’t need a traditional date to have a good night. You just need someone who actually gets you,” EVA states.

Interestingly enough, one patron who attended the virtual date night with her AI companion was interviewed by the New York Post.

She called the real-life dining environment too overstimulating and said she preferred “to be at home when interacting with her digital partner,” the Post reported.

Not sure if dating an AI companion is for you?

One Cybernews journalist put several chatbot “boyfriends” to the test before it was in fashion – and documented what happened. If AI girlfriends are more your thing, we profiled those chatbots, too.

Unlock more exclusive Cybernews content on YouTube.