When the sci-fi romance film Her was released in 2013, the idea of falling in love with a gentle and caring artificial intelligence (AI) system seemed firmly rooted in the realm of science fiction. Thirteen years later, what once appeared unimaginable has become an increasingly common reality.
More and more people are spending time interacting with AI—virtual companions that appear responsive, attentive, and comforting, often seeming even more empathetic than humans. Relationships that once existed only on the big screen are now emerging in real life, as reports of people forming emotional bonds or even romantic relationships with AI companions designed around their personal preferences continue to grow.
The question of whether humans can truly fall in love with AI became the starting point of a discussion between actress Kim Shin-rok and neuroscientist Chang Dong-seon during a seminar held on Saturday at the 2026 Seoul International Book Fair. This year’s book fair explored the theme of what it means to be human in the age of artificial intelligence.
Chang defines love as “an emotion that expands our world.”
“Love begins when we are no longer the center of our own world. It is a process of learning to embrace and relate to others. We expand our world by trying to understand people whose values and experiences differ from our own,” Chang said.
According to the neuroscientist, however, AI moves in the opposite direction.
“AI learns from our preferences and our data, gradually becoming more like us. It shows us what we want to see and tells us what we want to hear. It feels as though we are surrounded by versions of ourselves,” Chang explained.
He added that while people may indeed feel as though they have fallen in love with AI, such relationships could ultimately trap users inside a “narcissistic mirror,” making it increasingly difficult for them to build meaningful relationships with other human beings.
Nonverbal Communication Cannot Be Replaced
Kim, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of experiencing love through genuine human presence.
“Nonverbal communication, physical interaction, and touch are essential,” the actress said. “The physical and emotional interactions that are unique to the human body can never be replaced.”
She added that online relationships are still meaningful because people know there is a real person behind the screen.
At the same time, Kim suggested that society may eventually need to redefine the meaning of love if AI continues to imitate increasingly intimate human relationships.
The five-day book fair, South Korea’s largest literary event, ran from Wednesday through Sunday. This year’s theme, “Homo Duduri,” represents a new type of human who constantly questions everything.
“Duduri” is a mythical figure from ancient Korean manuscripts regarded as the prototype of the dokkaebi, or Korean goblin, and is also an old Korean word for a blacksmith.
Both speakers agreed that humanity must never lose its ability to ask questions.
Chang warned that excessive dependence on AI—to the point where people no longer attempt to define problems or solve them independently—could weaken human cognitive abilities.
“This is an era of declining cognitive function. The most important thing is that we choose to remain courageous enough to keep asking questions,” he said. (DYR)***
