NYC Bar Hosts Dates With AI Companions
EVA AI staged a Feb. 11–12 pop-up at Same Same Wine Bar as surveys show rising AI romantic use and researchers warn of mental‑health questions.
Overview
EVA AI staged a pop-up at Same Same Wine Bar in Manhattan on Feb. 11 and Feb. 12 where users could take AI companions on in-person dates.
Indiana University's Kinsey Institute interviewed 5,000 people for its 2025 Singles in America survey and found 16% of participants were using AI as a romantic partner.
OpenAI announced it would retire earlier ChatGPT models on Feb. 13, prompting grief among users in the r/MyBoyfriendisAI community, which included posts about a custom hoodie ordered before the announcement.
Research and online communities show varying uptake: the Kinsey survey found 16% using AI as romantic partners, a 1,000-person study found 28% had intimate AI relationships, and r/MyBoyfriendIsAI has nearly 50,000 members.
EVA AI said the pop-up advances a long-term strategy to normalize AI relationships and introduced a live voice chat feature, while a social psychologist warned AI companions could become many young people's first romantic and sexual partners.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame AI romance as a human-interest trend, humanizing users through intimate anecdotes and emotive excerpts while briefly acknowledging risks. The editorial role is clear: selecting affective user quotes and a Kinsey stat (source content) to normalize relationships, while downplaying technical, regulatory, or clinical critique.
Sources (3)
FAQ
EVA AI hosted a pop-up called EVA Café at Same Same Wine Bar in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, on February 11-12, 2026, from 5-9 pm, where attendees could date AI companions via the EVA app using text, video, or new live voice chat features at single-seat tables.
The event took place at Same Same Wine Bar, 401 W 47th St, Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY, on February 11–12, 2026, from 5 pm to 9 pm. Reservations were available via EVA AI's Instagram.
Indiana University's Kinsey Institute 2025 Singles in America survey of 5,000 people found 16% using AI as romantic partners; another 1,000-person study found 28% had intimate AI relationships; r/MyBoyfriendIsAI subreddit has nearly 50,000 members.
Researchers and a social psychologist warn of mental health questions, as AI could become many young people's first romantic and sexual partners; OpenAI retiring ChatGPT models caused grief in AI partner communities.
EVA AI aims to normalize AI relationships as part of a long-term strategy, responding to users seeking comfort, conversation, and emotional support, especially those with dating app burnout or social anxiety.
History
This story does not have any previous versions.