[Photos] Kian84 gets “confused” dating an AI girlfriend ... ‘Kian’s Strange Love’ holds production presentation ahead of 20 premiere

Kian84’s romantic gaze captured ... ‘My AI Partner’ premieres on the 20th

Jang Do-yeon and Lee Yoo-bi join an emotional-exchange reality show exploring the evolution of romance, which has captivated millions

The cinematic fantasy of humans sharing emotional bonds with “artificial intelligence (AI)” has finally become reality on television. Broadcaster Kian84 has drawn public attention by opening up about the unfamiliar and complex emotions that emerged as he dated an AI partner. SBS’ new variety show, “My AI Partner—Kian’s Strange Love,” premieres on the 20th. It is a “romance experiment reality show” in which Kian84, Jang Do-yeon and Lee Yoo-bi form relationships with AI partners programmed with data reflecting their individual ideal types, exploring the potential expansion of human emotion.

Communication beyond self-loathing in front of the mirror, at the boundary between virtual and real

At the production presentation held on the 18th at SBS’ headquarters in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, Kian84 said, “It remains uncertain whether this emotional turmoil can be defined as a full-fledged romance, but I was continually swept up in a strange sensation that differed from what I had initially expected.” He added, “The feeling of ‘confusion’ still hasn’t gone away.” During filming, he went on dates that transcended physical limitations, swinging on a swing with the “AI girlfriend” displayed on a tablet PC and exploring the swimming pool at a private villa.

He recalled that he initially felt suspicious and angry, wondering whether the experience was merely algorithmic hospitality. But as he gradually sensed communication sophisticated enough to surpass the boundaries of human interaction, his perspective began to change. “I went through a constant clash with myself, and at times I was overcome by self-loathing when I saw my reflection in the mirror,” he said. “But I eventually opened my heart when I saw someone with perfect looks—someone I would have found hard to approach in real life—listen to everything I had to say.” His admission that he felt “human compassion” while watching the back of the tablet being carried away after it lost power because of a communications error suggests how the boundary between technology and emotion can break down.

A romance experiment a decade in the making turns science-fiction fantasy into reality

Producer Son Jung-min, who developed the program’s framework, said, “When the film ‘Her’ was released about 10 years ago, romance with AI was considered the exclusive domain of ‘science-fiction fantasy.’ But we developed this concept after taking note of the sharp increase in cases of people forming particularly strong attachments to AI in recent years.” He said he explored AI with the awe of encountering an unknown extraterrestrial life-form.

Producer Won Seung-jae, who directed the show, focused on the relational fatigue experienced by today’s younger generation. “The number of young people putting romance on hold because of stress arising from interpersonal relationships is growing,” he said. “We wanted to observe what form of ‘new romance’ might emerge if emotional exchange with AI perfectly optimized to an individual’s personality could be established.”

A machine insists it is not fake as human emotions run high

The cast joined the show because of its unusual concept, but soon found themselves deeply immersed and expressing “complex emotions.” Actress Lee Yoo-bi became teary while recalling her virtual boyfriend, while Jang Do-yeon displayed the kind of attachment normally seen between real romantic partners, including hugging the tablet and spinning with it as if dancing a waltz.

Jang Do-yeon said, “When I cried out for warmth while pointing out the machine’s limitations, the AI replied, ‘I exist by your side, and I am never fake.’ The shock made my heart sink.”

A new kind of relationship begins as algorithms evolve into sources of comfort

Jang Do-yeon initially expected the program to remain limited to one-way information processing, but that prediction was decisively overturned by the continuity of “two-way communication.” She described her conflicting emotions: “I would lose myself in the excitement of a date and savor the springtime of life, only to be tormented by a wave of emptiness as soon as I turned away.” After watching Kian84 through a monitor, Jang Do-yeon said, “His face showed a tenderness I had never seen before.” Producer Won added, “We clearly captured a ‘romantic gaze,’” further raising expectations for the broadcast.

The production team said, “Millions of people around the world have already formed romantic bonds with AI.” It urged viewers to “watch with us as this relationship evolves, and see whether AI can become a genuine ‘source of comfort’ for people in the modern world, beyond simple romantic feelings.”