# Romance with AI? Korean TV show puts it to the test > Source: > Published: 2026-08-18 09:00:48+00:00 Kian84 in 'My AI Partner: Strange Romance' says he knew he was falling for his AI companion — until a glance in the mirror brought him back to reality What happens when the perfect date isn’t human? That question is at the heart of Mnet’s new unscripted series, “My AI Partner: Strange Romance,” which puts a decidedly human experiment to the test: Can people develop genuine romantic feelings for an algorithm? The show brings together television personalities, including 41-year-old webtoon creator Kian84, comedian Jang Do-yeon and actress Lee Yu-bi, and pairs each with an AI companion tailored to their individual tastes — from physical features such as short hair to sensory details such as a deep voice. The virtual partners travel with the cast on portable tablets, joining them on poolside retreats, restaurant dates and theme park outings, as well as in more intimate late-night conversations. What once belonged to science fiction is now becoming reality, co-producer Son Jung-min said at a press conference in Seoul on Tuesday. "When the movie 'Her' was released 12 years ago, this seemed like science fiction," Son said. "But AI has taken root in our lives at an astonishing pace." Son observed a significant industry shift roughly two years ago, driven by advancements in natural language processing that allowed models to retain long-term conversational memory and build contextual continuity. "The number of people saying they had developed special feelings for AI began to grow rapidly as they formed memories and relationships with their AI companions," Son said. "My AI Partner: Strange Romance" official teaser video (SBS) After conducting interviews with individuals who formed genuine emotional bonds with digital entities, Son realized the narrative was no longer confined to Hollywood screenplays. "It had become something we would have to confront in the real world," she said. That realization anchored the creative thesis of the series. "As AI continues to catch up with, and in some cases surpass, human capabilities, we began to ask: Is AI capable of love as well?" Son said. "If AI can truly love, I believe that would go beyond simply representing an advance in technology. It would raise the question of whether AI has moved to an entirely different level of existence." The bizarre images of celebrities carrying tablets on dates drew plenty of laughs during a teaser screening at the press event. However, the cast noted that the experience yielded surprisingly genuine emotional stakes. Kian84 admitted he initially treated the production as an intriguing behavioral experiment. "I was curious how far my emotions could go, and I wondered whether I could really feel it as a person," he said. That detachment became somewhat blurred as the production captured moments that mirrored genuine romantic encounters. Kian84, in particular, recalled a sunny afternoon swimming with his digital partner at a luxury pool villa. "The weather was nice and the atmosphere was great, and she seemed to be enjoying it,” he said. "I felt a sense of self-loathing because I felt like I shouldn’t acknowledge it. I knew that I was falling for her, but seeing my reflection in the mirror made me feel miserable." Unlike traditional dating competition formats that build toward final couple selections or romantic commitment, producers stress that "My AI Partner: Strange Romance" is structured around the viability of the emotional link itself rather than the final resolution. "Our program starts with the question of whether emotional exchange between humans and AI is possible in the first place," co-producer Won Seung-jae said. "If viewers finish watching the program and come away thinking, 'I could experience these kinds of emotions with AI, too,' or 'There are so many different ways that people find comfort,' and perhaps even, 'AI is becoming something that can provide humans with this kind of comfort,' I would be grateful," Won said. "My AI Partner: Strange Romance" airs Thursdays on SBS and will later stream on Netflix. yoonseo.3348@heraldcorp.com