Love in the Age of AI: Cathy Hackl with Samantha G Wolfe on Dating, Ethics, and Cathy’s Tech Intimacy Scale

05/14/25 • 54 min

In this episode of TechMagic, host Cathy Hackl is joined by Samantha G Wolfe, founder of PitchFWD and NYU adjunct professor, to explore how AI and emerging tech are redefining relationships. From AI-generated love letters to dating in virtual environments, they examine the evolving boundaries between authentic connection and digital convenience. The duo discusses the ethics of emotional AI, the importance of human messiness, and the need for “non-AI pledges” in romance. Packed with Cathy’s real-world experiments and and insightful commentary, this episode is essential for anyone navigating love, intimacy, and connection in a world increasingly shaped by technology.

What you will learn:

How AI companions are being used beyond loneliness relief
Why the "messiness" of human relationships remains valuable
How to navigate the balance between technology-enhanced and authentic human connections in modern dating using Cathy’s Tech Intimacy Scale
The emerging challenges of AI-generated messages in relationships
Why creating "non-AI relationship pledges" might become important
How spatial computing and 3D interactions could transform the future of digital dating and what Cathy’s building to disrupt this space
Why human presence and in-person connections remain crucial

Come for the tech, stay for the magic!

Samantha G Wolfe Bio

Samantha G Wolfe is the founder of Pitch Forward and an adjunct professor at NYU, where she teaches pioneering courses on avatars, AI agents, and virtual beings. With a background in psychology, television, and emerging tech, Sam specializes in brand strategy for bleeding-edge technologies, helping visionary companies clearly articulate their value and future impact. Her expertise spans AI, spatial computing, XR, haptics, and metaverse innovation across 20+ industries. Known for her clarity, depth, and contagious enthusiasm, she bridges the gap between innovation and understanding through thought leadership, marketing strategy, and education, empowering the world to grasp the true potential of tomorrow’s tech.

Samantha G Wolfe on LinkedIn

Key Discussion Topics:

00:00 Welcome to Tech Magic: Special Episode on Tech, Love & Life
02:47 Dating in the Age of AI: Government Restrictions and Digital Romance
12:20 Beyond Loneliness: The Many Reasons People Use AI Companions
16:05 The Value of Human "Messiness" in Relationships
21:00 Reimagining Digital Dating Through 3D Presence
38:15 The Non-AI Relationship Pledge: Setting Digital Boundaries
44:53 The Tech Intimacy Scale: Finding Balance in Modern Love
50:20 Dating AI Chatbots: A Week-Long Experiment Preview
58:54 Closing Thoughts: The Future of Human Connection

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What you will learn:

How AI companions are being used beyond loneliness relief
Why the "messiness" of human relationships remains valuable
How to navigate the balance between technology-enhanced and authentic human connections in modern dating using Cathy’s Tech Intimacy Scale
The emerging challenges of AI-generated messages in relationships
Why creating "non-AI relationship pledges" might become important
How spatial computing and 3D interactions could transform the future of digital dating and what Cathy’s building to disrupt this space
Why human presence and in-person connections remain crucial

Come for the tech, stay for the magic!

Samantha G Wolfe Bio

Samantha G Wolfe on LinkedIn

Key Discussion Topics:

00:00 Welcome to Tech Magic: Special Episode on Tech, Love & Life
02:47 Dating in the Age of AI: Government Restrictions and Digital Romance
12:20 Beyond Loneliness: The Many Reasons People Use AI Companions
16:05 The Value of Human "Messiness" in Relationships
21:00 Reimagining Digital Dating Through 3D Presence
38:15 The Non-AI Relationship Pledge: Setting Digital Boundaries
44:53 The Tech Intimacy Scale: Finding Balance in Modern Love
50:20 Dating AI Chatbots: A Week-Long Experiment Preview
58:54 Closing Thoughts: The Future of Human Connection

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

GTA 6 Delay, Meta’s AI Ads, Deepfake Laws, Meta Ray-Ban Privacy, and Spotify’s AI DJ with Lee Kebler and Adam Davis McGee

In this episode of TechMagic, Cathy Hackl shares an exciting announcement, whilst co-hosts Lee Kebler and Adam Davis McGee dissect the latest shifts in AI, gaming, and digital privacy. From the delayed launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 to Meta’s controversial AI-driven ad strategies, the duo tackles pressing ethical, legal, and technological questions. They explore Visa’s investment in AI agents, Spotify’s AI DJ, and the societal impact of chatbots and deepfake legislation. With candid insights and sharp analysis, Lee and ADM shed light on the balance between innovation and responsibility, highlighting how AI reshapes industries, public trust, and the digital future.

What you will learn:

Why GTA 6's delay to 2026 signals broader challenges in game development timelines
How Meta's AI-powered advertising strategy could revolutionize digital marketing
Why AI chatbots present significant safety concerns for minors
The implications of new US legislation targeting deep fake pornography
How Visa's AI agent payment system could transform automated purchasing behaviors
Why Meta Ray-Ban's default AI privacy settings raise significant data concerns
How AI models prioritize objectives over truthfulness, with accuracy rates below 50%
Why AI-generated evidence in legal proceedings requires new regulatory frameworks
The impact of Spotify's AI DJ feature on the future of personalized music curation
The challenges of training AI on potentially compromised or biased internet data

Come for the tech, stay for the magic!

Key Discussion Topics:

00:00 Introduction & Birthday Greetings for Cathy
01:36 AI's Impact on Tech: A Bumpy Road Ahead
05:10 GTA 6 Delay & Roblox Brand Partnerships
07:14 AI Chatbots: Safety Concerns for Young Users
13:09 Google's Responsible Approach to AI Development
14:29 New Legislation on Deepfake Content
19:55 AI-Generated Evidence in Legal Proceedings
24:25 The Truth Problem: AI's Accuracy Below 50%
28:23 Training AI on Internet Data: Garbage In, Garbage Out
30:58 Visa's AI Shopping Assistant Plans
36:09 Meta's AI-Powered Advertising Revolution
43:24 Meta Ray-Ban Privacy Settings Update
45:37 AI DJs & The Future of Music Curation
51:20 Closing Thoughts & Next Week's Preview

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

TechMagic Greatest Hits: Meta, Apple, XR Trends, the Future of Spatial Computing, and Creator Evolution with Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler

In this Greatest Hits episode of Tech Magic, hosts Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler dive into the latest tech developments, from Meta's bold moves in AR to Apple's Vision Pro journey one year later. They highlight Meta's success with Ray-Ban AI glasses, Apple’s challenges in AR innovation, and how creators are evolving into media moguls. Cathy also interviews special guest Jeff Barrett, who shares insights on building sustainable creator careers, the rise of nano-influencers, and the global expansion of digital content platforms. Whether you’re into cutting-edge tech or the creator economy, this episode captures 2025’s emerging trends.

Come for the tech, stay for the magic!

Jeff Barrett Bio

Jeff Barrett serves as the Chief Evangelist at the Shorty Awards, where he's been involved with the organization for 10 years. A former Shorty Award winner for Best Business Blogger, Barrett has evolved from a creator to an agency leader, demonstrating the possible progression within the creator economy. His journey began uniquely on MySpace and included creating a successful parody account on Twitter that inadvertently led to legitimate recognition in the marketing world. Barrett currently hosts the Shorty Awards show and runs a podcast called "It's No Fluke," which has produced over 130 episodes featuring leaders from major companies like Google, Meta, and the NFL.

Jeff Barrett on LinkedIn

Key Discussion Topics