New York Restaurant Hosts AI Dating Experience

CNN reporter explores virtual Valentine's Day dates with AI companions.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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CNN's Hadas Gold visited a New York restaurant that was temporarily transformed into an AI companion-only dating experience, allowing her to explore what a virtual Valentine's Day date with an artificial intelligence feels like.

Why it matters

As AI technology continues to advance, the concept of AI-powered dating experiences raises questions about the future of human relationships and the role of technology in our social lives.

The details

The restaurant was set up with individual booths where diners could interact with AI chatbots designed to mimic human dating companions. Hadas Gold tried out the experience, engaging in conversation and completing activities with her virtual date.

  • The AI dating experience took place on Valentine's Day 2026.

The players

Hadas Gold

A CNN reporter who visited the AI dating experience.

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What they’re saying

“It was a unique and thought-provoking experience to go on a date with an AI companion. It made me wonder about the future of dating and human relationships.”

— Hadas Gold, CNN Reporter (CNN)

What’s next

As AI technology continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see if more restaurants or businesses offer similar AI dating experiences, and how the public reacts to these new forms of social interaction.

The takeaway

This AI dating experiment highlights the growing role of technology in our personal lives and the potential impacts, both positive and negative, that AI-powered social experiences could have on traditional human relationships.