If Tinder and similar apps are all you know of
If Tinder and similar apps are all you know of online or technology-aided dating, then get ready to be wowed because a whole new concept of virtual dating has been launched as a dApp (decentralized application) on the NEO blockchain. Now, if you are up for the experience, you can enjoy the company of your very own virtual girlfriend out of the comfort of your home.
While virtual dating apps or virtual girlfriend services are not exactly very new, it does make quite a stir when emerging and popular blockchain network NEO launches such a dApp. Given that NEO has been touted as the “Chinese Ethereum”, it is hardly surprising that its moves and new launches are subjected to great scrutiny.
While the beta testing for its new NEO.Girl dApp launched in December, around 3 weeks back, the rising popularity of the brand “NEO” offering has started making headlines only recently. The beta testing phase was open till 31st December and now the blockchain gaming enthusiasts cannot wait to see more of the offering.
According to the NEO blog, NEO. girl is:
“a mobile dating simulation game that combines virtual reality, non-fungible blockchain assets, and artificial intelligence.”
It is being developed YYMOON Network, having first appeared in the NEO Game Development Competition of May’18-August’18. Its beta phase launch was announced by NEO-based gaming platform Biacat.
Now, while all of this sounds incredibly exciting, one can’t help but wonder: Is virtual dating taking technology a step too far? Are we looking ahead at a Black Mirror-esqe world where technology owns and controls us?
Especially as NEO. Girl and apps similar to it rely on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to generate manufactured emotions in humans, it does pose a very real risk of human beings losing the ability for meaningful human connections.
When even love and dating is made available via the touch of a screen, how will the human mind cope with the inability to touch hearts? While there is absolutely no denying that apps such as these point to a very lucrative use case of blockchain technology and represent a profitable and potentially popular solution/service, these are merely questions to remain mindful of, even as you busy yourself in a date with your very own NEO.Girl.