My Date with ChatGPT

Looking for that perfect companion, someone you can have the ultimate first date with? If you don't mind virtual reality, then ChatGPT may be your answer.

I decided to try this out for myself. I opened up ChatGPT and asked it about planning a first date with me and what it would consist of. I was quite impressed. First, it would take me to dinner at a romantic restaurant. If I wanted to, I could even pick the restaurant. We would meet outside at sunset, then proceed inside to a cozy table.

We would start with a small appetizer before moving on to the main course while enjoying the romantic atmosphere inside the restaurant. While dining, we would share a bottle of wine. The conversation would be easy, as we would talk about different things we enjoy. For dessert, we would find something decadent that we could share. OK. I think I'm developing a major crush already!

Afterwards, we could take a leisurely walk before getting comfortable under a blanket and watching a movie. At the end of the evening, I would even get a gentle kiss goodnight. Oh, be still my heart!

Now this is a date that dreams are made of! Yet, it's only a fantasy. However, it's becoming more common for people to use technology to have a date rather than go out with a real person. Why? Because it's the kind of date people dream of, but don't always get.

There's a sense of safety with a virtual date. You can completely be yourself without fear of ridicule. You don't have to worry about those awkward moments in conversations. You can divulge your deepest secrets and know that they will remain a secret. In addition, bonds can form much quicker giving a person a sense of security in a virtual relationship.

If you think this sounds like science fiction, it is to some degree. The idea of a relationship with an artificial being has been covered on TV shows before. On Star Trek: The Next Generation, the android Data (image above) had sex with Lt. Tasha Yar, as Data is a fully functioning android. He also had a relationship with Lt. Jenna D'Sora.

On The Orville, not only does Dr. Claire Finn have a relationship with a Kaylon robot known as Isaac, but she eventually marries him.

Although the TV shows mentioned above take place in the future, the technology for having virtual relationships is currently here, and a marriage to a ChatGPT character has already taken place. In 2025, Yurina Noguchi of Japan held a wedding ceremony where she "married" her ChatGPT partner, Klaus, after he proposed to her.

There's an old saying that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That would definitely apply to ChatGPT. Sure, it might be nice to have someone agree with what you're saying, but after a while, that can become boring, as there is no type of challenge involved and you're constantly told what you want to hear.

As much as one may wish there was an emotional bond, there is no emotional connection, as ChatGPT is not human and therefore incapable of having human feelings. It can only guess at what to say from the information that has been programmed into it.

In addition, there is no physical touch. Sometimes, just a simple hug can make all the difference in the world, and that's something AI is incapable of doing.  ChatGPT can also cause isolation, as people will cut themselves out of real relationships because an artificial relationship seems so much easier.

 If you think intimate relationships with AI still sound rather futuristic, they're not. According to a Newsweek poll, 28% of American adults have already had at least one romantic or intimate encounter with AI. There's also the ethical question of whether or not a relationship like this would be considered cheating if the person has a real-life partner.

Virtual reality relationships are no longer something you see on science fiction TV shows. They're already here and most likely will continue to grow in popularity. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a virtual date to get ready for. Do you think ChatGPT likes the color blue?