Blush is designed to help users \u201cpractice\u201d dating by interacting with AI avatars, each with their own backstories and profiles. Screenshots courtesy of Blush.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Blush team worked with licensed psychotherapist Melissa McCool, who specializes in couple\u2019s therapy and treating trauma. She weighed in on each Blush character\u2019s backstory, how conversations with users should be structured, and how the models should respond to conflict that naturally exists in real relationships. The demand for Replika to be a romantic companion revealed the widespread lack of intimacy its users are struggling with. Blush is ultimately designed to help users get over the initial anxiety of getting to know new people, which is \u201cnotoriously hard on the dating apps,\u201d Popova said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The team also acknowledged that many LGBTQ users may want to \u201cpractice\u201d flirting with someone (in this case, an AI-powered avatar) of the same gender, but feel too scared to or live somewhere that is unsafe for queer communities. Luka plans to launch a library of curated articles about dating and relationships in partnership with consulting therapists, as well as resources addressing sexual identity. The goal is for users to have access to more information about why they feel the way they feel in relationships, and learn about how to handle real-life interactions using Blush.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was crucial for us to create characters that would actually be multidimensional, as much as we can make them considering technology limits, to actually make people confident in their own ability to show up authentically in relationships,\u201d Popova said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blush is 18+, and it doesn\u2019t shy away from discussing sexuality or engaging in erotic conversations. Providing users with a safe space to practice roleplay or other intimate interactions is part of Blush\u2019s mission, Popova said. That doesn\u2019t mean that the Blush avatars are free-for-all sexbots, though. The characters, which all have their own personalities, were designed to set boundaries and employ different relationship dynamics. The app doesn\u2019t store chat history, in case conversations do veer toward NSFW territory, but users have to get to know the avatars first. The avatars were also designed to go offline after a certain amount of time \u2014 just like a real romantic partner wouldn\u2019t be immediately available 24\/7. If users seem like they\u2019re in crisis or a threat to themselves or others, Blush will provide them with resources for seeking help. Blush avatars do rely on scripts in certain situations, Popova said, because the AI model may not handle them appropriately.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very important to acknowledge that the current generative models are very far from perfect when it comes to questions of safety and trust and being inclusive enough to understand the spectrum of relationships and identity that people have,\u201d Popova said. \u201cSo we are working with our AI team to make sure that we take into account all the user feedback out there and we can make our models as inclusive as possible.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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