I would be lying if I said AI doesn’t absolutely terrify me. Its seemingly limitless capabilities leaves the door wide open for ventures of good and evil. But what if AI were used to find our perfect romantic or platonic match? Phoenix Tears Productions’ AI: PERFECT PARTNER (APPP) explores if we, as humans, could find our “perfect match” through AI.

Phoenix Tears Productions boasts quite an impressive list of virtual and in-person immersive experiences. From multiple storylines in an entire fictional universe (Posthumous) to numerous in-person shows in Orlando, Phoenix Tears Productions have established themselves extremely well in the immersive community. APPP adds yet another fantastic production to their list.

APPP is a 20–25-minute immersive, sci-fi rom-com phone call experience where the audience member interacts with an AI to be matched with a human partner who is allegedly perfect for them. Like many of Phoenix Tears’ shows, there are multiple endings, which makes this production highly interactive and replay-able. I always really appreciate the opportunity to explore how my decisions and actions affect the narrative in an immersive realm.

APPP has easily become one of my favorite phone experiences. Establishing a rapport with an individual in such a short amount of time while progressing along a storyline is no easy feat. The cast of Phoenix Tears not only accomplishes just that but excels beyond that to create both memorable and emotional experiences from the get-go. My interactions with my AI companion, ALIC, demonstrated how well-versed the cast members are in improv and how well they can build an emotional connection with the audience in such a short time. Another thing I loved about APPP was how the show made me truly think about AI and some implications behind the new technology. I always enjoy it when immersives dive into relevant material, as it grounds the show in a sort of realism where participants can process and explore a variety of scenarios.

I loved every minute of APPP and highly recommend checking out this show. The strong performances combined with the reflection on AI creates a powerful piece that everyone should experience.

Note: while APPP is about AI, the actors are real humans and not AI. Actors bring a level of humanity and improvisation that should not be replaced by AI.

For more information, and to secure tickets, visit APPP’s website.