Overview
- Over February 11–12, Same Same Wine Bar in Hell’s Kitchen hosted a two‑day pop‑up where solo guests sat with phone stands and headphones to text, talk, or video chat with AI companions.
- On‑site reporting found light turnout from existing users, with the company expecting about 40 visitors on Thursday but only three arriving during a 50‑minute stretch as journalists and influencers filled many seats.
- EVA AI showcased new live voice and video chat alongside roughly 100 prebuilt characters, and offered speed‑dating with AI personas for attendees without an existing companion.
- Company representatives said the goal was to destigmatize AI relationships rather than replace human partners, while some users reported benefits such as social practice, confidence, and consistent emotional support.
- Surveys show rising adoption, especially among teens and young adults, even as user communities highlight technical fragility and platform changes, including OpenAI’s retirement of older ChatGPT models that some companions relied on.