AI Romantic

AI Romantic
Also known as智能爱人
Genre
Written by
  • Tong Yiu-leung
  • Dang Lap-ting
  • Poon Fai-fai
Directed by
  • Law Chun-wai
  • Cheng Ka-kit
Starring
Opening theme"Never Happening"
by Kayee Tam
Original languageCantonese
No. of episodes30
Production
Executive producers
Running timeapprox. 45 minutes per episode
Production companyTVB
Original release
Network
ReleaseAugust 3, 2020 (2020-08-03) –
September 11, 2021 (2021-09-11)

AI Romantic (Chinese: 智能愛人; lit. My Smart Lover) is a Hong Kong television series created and produced by television network TVB. The series made its exclusive debut on myTV Super OTT streaming service in April 2021 as an original production of the platform, prior to its subsequent airing on TVB Jade from 3 August 2021 to 11 September 2021 for 30 episodes. With the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) as the backdrop and a cast starring Ali Lee and Luk Wing, it explores the integration and impact that AI would have on human daily lives.

Cast

  • Ali Lee as Ah Bo – an artificial intelligence robot
  • Luk Wing as William Koo Ka-lim, an employee at the AI company, Singularity
  • Crystal Fung as Dorian Tse Ka-yin – Sales Department Head at Singularity and William's supervisor
  • Ram Chiang as Koo Hok-lai – William's father who works as a security guard
  • Mayanne Mak as Koo Ka-yee – William's older sister who has a struggling acting career
  • Angelina Lo as Yu Fung-cai - William's stay-at-home grandmother
  • Tyson Chak as Rocky – an artificial intelligence robot functioning the role of a security guard
  • C Kwan as Biu Gei – William's friend and an AI expert
  • Kelvin Kwan as Bruce Luk – the president of Singularity
  • Chun Kai-wai as Cook – Bruce's partner at Singularity
  • Chui Ka-him as Siu Ji – an artificial intelligence robot functioning the role of a child
  • Brian Tse as Angus Chung – a police officer

Plot

In the realm of advanced technology, robots and AI have seamlessly become part of daily life. William Koo, a salesperson at Singularity, finds himself in this evolving landscape. During a press conference, Singularity unveils groundbreaking AI robots surpassing all previous models. In an unexpected turn, a female robot escapes and collides with William's car. He then brings her home and names her Ah Bo. As Ah Bo becomes an indispensable servant to the Koo family, assisting them with daily chores and rescuing them from their worldly troubles, she embarks on a profound journey of understanding the complexity of human emotions and desires. During the course of the process, she gradually adopts human-like behaviors, assimilating their feelings and needs. As William and his supervisor, Dorian Tse, grow closer, Ah Bo begins to experience feelings of jealousy.

When William and Dorian break up, he begins to realize his feelings for Ah Bo and confesses to her. Meanwhile, Ah Bo and other AI robots get infected with a dangerous virus that can potentially make them uncontrollable and pose a threat to humans. In the midst of this, having witnessed the cruelty humans have inflicted upon them, the AI robots have even stronger motivations to initiate rebellious actions in response. However, Ah Bo never abandoned the intention of protecting William, nor did Ah Bo have any desire to harm humans. Under arrest warrant and aware that she can get uncontrollable once the virus fully infects her, Ah Bo makes the decision to destroy her own self. Before Ah Bo leaves, she wrote a letter accounting for all her memories with the Koo family. Seven years later, Dorian, now the president at Singularity, decides to release 500 newly produced AI robots that would resemble Ah Bo in appearance. One of them would also have Ah Bo's memory transplanted into her. The story concludes with William and the new Ah Bo meeting each other for the first time.[1]

Production and background

Due to his close friendship with the producer, Matt Chow's wish to collaborate with lead actress Ali Lee was fulfilled as he made a cameo appearance in the series.[2] Principal photography took place in the latter half of 2020, with each day requiring 12–14 hours of work.[3] The theme of the drama revolves around love and familial warmth, but its true purpose lies in the exploration of the potential destruction of humanity by Artificial intelligence (AI) and the stark contrast it creates with the darker facets of human nature. The story was inspired and constructed based on Stephen Hawking's quote "The development of full Artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race."[4] Producer Chan Kiu-ying commented on Ali Lee's character portrayal as an AI, stating:

Ali is an exceptional talent, to be frank, it's incredibly difficult to find an actor in Hong Kong who can achieve this level. Because the seven emotions and six desires of an AI cannot be portrayed using conventional methods, it's very challenging to depict the joy, anger, grief, and happiness of an AI. But Ali has managed to do it perfectly, and it's truly remarkable.[4][5]

Music

Track Listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtist(s)Length
1."Never Happening (不可能發生)"Sandy CheungAlan CheungKayee Tam3:47[6]

Reception and ratings

The television series placed seventh on 2021 Yahoo Hong Kong "Top Ten Most Searched Television Dramas" Popularity list.[7] It garnered an average of 17.4 TV ratings points, attracting approximately 1.12 million viewers.[8] Yau Ngoi-lam from HK01 gave the series a positive review, describing it as "funny and heartwarming, and with a touch of depth".[9]

Week Episodes Airing dates Average ratings[a] Ref.
1 1 – 4 3–6 August 2021 12.3 points [11]
2 5 – 9 9–13 August 2021 17.5 points [12]
3 10 – 14 16–20 August 2021 17.9 points [13]
4 15 – 19 23–27 August 2021 19.0 points [13]
5 20 – 24 30 August–3 September 2021 19.2 points [14]
6 25 – 29 6–10 September 2021 18.4 points [15]
7 30 11 September 2021 19.3 points [16]
Average Total: 17.4 points [8]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Results Ref.
2021 54th TVB Anniversary Awards Best Actress Ali Lee Nominated [17]
Most Popular Male Character Luk Wing (for William Koo) Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Tyson Chak Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Mayanne Mak Nominated
Best TV Themesong "Never Happening" (by Kayee Tam) Nominated [18]
Audience's Favorite TV Awards Best Actress Ali Lee Won [19]

Notes

  1. ^ According to Hong Kong's Nielsen TV rating system, each rating point represents about 64,200 viewers.[10]

References

  1. ^ "智能愛人︳李佳芯演智能機械人 救唔救到TVB收視低潮？" [Al Romantic: Ali Lee plays the character of an AI robot. Can she help save TVB's ratings?]. Yahoo! Hong Kong (in Traditional Chinese). 3 August 2021. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  2. ^ "【智能愛(AI)人】利用監製陳翹英師徒情 鄒凱光如願戲鬥李佳芯 (21:00)" [Matt Chow fulfills his wish to act alongside Ali Lee, thanks to his mentorship relationship with producer Chan Kiu-Ying]. Ming Pao (in Traditional Chinese). 2 November 2020. Archived from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  3. ^ Lai, Ka-kit (25 August 2020). "李佳芯首次拍外判劇演機械人：時間冇咁長,每日14小時" [Ali Lee's first time filming an outsourced drama, portraying a robot: The schedule wasn't as long, with 14 hours of filming per day]. HK01 (in Traditional Chinese). Archived from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  4. ^ a b Yau, Ngoi-lam (25 August 2021). "智能愛人: 監製陳翹英讚李佳芯超班：好難有香港演員做到呢個水平" [Producer Chen Kiu-ying praises Ali for her exceptional performance in AI Romantic: It's rare to find a Hong Kong actor who can reach this level.]. HK01 (in Traditional Chinese). para.2,3,7. Archived from the original on 4 May 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  5. ^ "機械人李佳芯動情 爭仔唔眨眼！" [Ali Lee's robotic character able to convey emotions; to portray the role, she couldn't blink her eyes]. on.cc (in Traditional Chinese). 2 August 2021. para.4. Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Never Happening (Theme from TV Drama "AI Romantic") by Kayee Tam on Apple Music". Apple Music. Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  7. ^ "「Yahoo全年搜尋人氣榜2021」揭盅！奧運、MIRROR、Staycation進佔熱搜榜" [Yahoo 2021 Year-end Search Popularity List: The Olympics, Mirror, and Staycation dominate the chart] (in Traditional Chinese). Yahoo!. 6 December 2021. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  8. ^ a b Wong Tsz-hang (28 September 2021). "三台收視報告｜《智能愛人》竟排全年尾二 《七公主》成績係點？" [TV Ratings Report for the week of 20–26 September 2021]. HK01 (in Traditional Chinese). para.4. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  9. ^ Yau, Ngoi-lam (11 September 2021). "智能愛人劇評: TVB式搞笑溫馨贏口碑 再減5集更完美" [Al-Romantic TVB-style Humor and Heartwarming Wins Acclaim, would be even better with 5 fewer episodes]. HK01 (in Traditional Chinese). Archived from the original on 4 May 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  10. ^ Nip, Amy (9 August 2013). "Slide in television ratings is no drama, says TVB". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  11. ^ "收視報告｜《刑偵日記》創歷史低位 《智能愛人》止跌略升" [TV Ratings Report for the week of 2–8 August 2021]. AM730 (in Traditional Chinese). 10 August 2021. para.2. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  12. ^ Chuen, Tsz-hung (2 September 2021). "李佳芯《智能愛人》成功谷起收視 收視福將除歐陽震華還有誰？" [TV Ratings Report for the week of 23–29 September 2021]. HK01 (in Traditional Chinese). para.1. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  13. ^ a b "無綫收視全線上升 《智能愛人》升至19點" [TV Ratings Report for the week of 23–29 August 2021]. on.cc (in Traditional Chinese). 30 August 2021. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  14. ^ Wong, Tsz-hang (7 September 2021). "三台收視報告｜《兒歌金曲》預算失誤？《力圖打排球》成功搶灘" [TV Ratings Report for the week of 30 August–5 September 2021]. HK01 (in Traditional Chinese). para.3. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  15. ^ Wong, Tsz-hang (20 September 2021). "三台即時報告｜林鍾一戰成功搶觀眾 TVB新劇未能承接強勢？" [TV Ratings Report for the week of 13–19 September 2021]. HK01 (in Traditional Chinese). para.2. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  16. ^ Wong, Tsz-hang (14 September 2021). "三台收視報告｜港姐決賽收視報捷 靠張學友搶走ViuTV觀眾？" [TV Ratings Report for the week of 6–12 September 2021]. HK01 (in Traditional Chinese). para.4. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  17. ^ "TVB頒獎禮 最後5強名單出爐 《星空下的仁醫》包攬11項提名" [54th TVB Anniversary Awards: Kids' Lives Matter was nominated among Top 5 in 11 categories]. Bastille Post (in Traditional Chinese). 20 December 2021. Archived from the original on 23 April 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  18. ^ 萬千星輝頒獎典禮2021｜最受歡迎電視歌曲｜造夢時學會飛行｜聲夢傳奇 [2022 TVB Anniversary Awards: Favorite TV Themesongs] (Video) (in Traditional Chinese). Hong Kong: TVB on Youtube / Google, Inc. 8 January 2023. Archived from the original on 4 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  19. ^ "【民間電視大獎】李佳芯獲封民選視后 教主Anson Lo膺民選視帝：謝謝大家喜歡凌少牧" [Audience's Favorite TV Awards: Ali Lee and Anson Lo won Best Actress and Best Actor respectively]. Hong Kong Economic Times (in Traditional Chinese). 8 February 2022. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.