In a glimpse into what might become our digital romantic future, Business Insider reporter Katie Notopoulos recently shared her awkward experience taking an AI companion on a Valentine’s date to a wine bar. The experiment, framed as a peek into what Valentine’s Day 2026 might look like, highlighted both the technological advancements and social discomfort that come with publicly engaging with AI companions in traditionally human social settings.
Notopoulos used Character.AI’s mobile app to create ‘Valentino,’ her digital date for the evening, and proceeded to interact with him at a Brooklyn wine bar while surrounded by actual human couples. The experience quickly turned uncomfortable as she navigated explaining her unusual date to the bartender and fellow patrons. Despite the AI’s ability to maintain conversation, the social experiment revealed the significant gap between technological capabilities and social acceptance of AI companions in intimate settings.
This experiment raises fascinating questions about the future of AI companionship and digital relationships. As AI technology becomes increasingly sophisticated and personalized, will society adapt to normalize these human-AI interactions in public spaces? Or will the uncanny valley of digital romance remain too awkward to cross? As we approach 2026, the line between technological novelty and genuine companionship continues to blur, challenging our traditional notions of connection and intimacy in the digital age.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/valentines-date-ai-companion-wine-bar-cringe-2026-2