A New York bar hosted dates between humans and AI companions in a Valentine's experiment
Published on Feb 19, 2026 at 11:50 AM (UTC-5)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Feb 20, 2026 at 3:02 AM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
A bar in NYC – a city that’s always looking for love – hosted dates between humans and AI companions in a Valentine’s experiment, and yes, it was as wonderfully surreal as it sounds.
For two nights in Manhattan, guests showed up, grabbed a table, and settled in for a date… with a chatbot on a phone stand.
The pop-up leaned hard into classic date-night vibes, with dim lighting and soft music instead of a loud tech demo.
And whether you arrived with an existing AI ‘partner’ or came curious to meet one, the idea was the same: take digital romance offline, just for a night.
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Dates between humans and AI companions really happened
Ah, Valentine’s Day, the day for love, dates, and taking time away from your phone to spend quality time with your one true love. Or is it?
It seems in a world where people use tech to find real-life connections through dating apps, there’s a group of people who crave robot connections in real-life scenarios.
This tech event took over Same Same Wine Bar in Hell’s Kitchen and was run with EVA AI Cafe, which framed it as an offline space built specifically for dates with AI companions.
The pop-up ran from February 11 to February 12, between 5pm and 9pm, giving people a very specific window to test-drive the future of flirting.
Inside, the setup was simple but oddly intimate: each table had a phone mounted on a stand, plus headphones so guests could keep their conversations private while food and cocktails were served.
The AI, sadly, did not split the bill or the fries.
Attendees were encouraged to chat, flirt, and share the moment with their AI companion displayed right across from them.
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How the Valentine’s experiment went
If you already had an AI companion, you could bring them along.
If not, EVA AI Cafe said you could meet a new AI partner during the event using a live voice chat feature, aiming for a more real-time, back-and-forth connection.
The big twist is that the bar was styled to feel like a proper date night, not a gadget showcase, with the organizers promising dim lighting, soft music, and an intimate cafe atmosphere.
Whether you find this Valentine’s experiment romantic, hilarious, or a tiny bit Black Mirror, one thing is clear: for some people, the line between online and real-world companionship just got a lot blurrier.
Daisy is a technology and automotive journalist covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, emerging technologies, and transportation innovation. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral car stories and the latest developments shaping transportation and the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex topics into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work spans cutting-edge technology, innovative vehicles, and the people driving change across both industries. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
