Orchid ad draws backlash for pitching AI to handle relationship tasks

In short: A new ad for the AI assistant Orchid sparked criticism by suggesting it can smooth over relationship problems by doing basic life tasks for an inconsiderate partner.

What's going on

Orchid, an AI agent (a helper app that can take actions for you, like booking and buying things), released a promotional video this week that leans on the idea of “weaponized incompetence.” That phrase is often used online to describe a partner who acts bad at everyday tasks so the other person ends up doing them.

In the ad, a boyfriend forgets his anniversary and turns to Orchid. Orchid then makes a dinner reservation and buys the girlfriend’s favorite flowers, even though the boyfriend did not remember the details himself. The girlfriend also uses Orchid during the day and knows the assistant is doing the work, but the boyfriend still takes credit.

The rollout was widely criticized on X. Some users said the message encourages people to stay in unhappy relationships and lets one partner avoid basic responsibility.

A licensed marriage and family therapist, Lauren Maher, told Wired that outsourcing hard conversations can make things worse. She warned that using a third party instead of talking directly, a pattern called “triangulation” (like passing notes through someone else), is usually discouraged in couples therapy.

Separate survey results cited in the story also suggest AI advice can add confusion in dating. A survey from the astrology app Hint found 59 percent of respondents said AI advice left them more confused.

What to watch

Orchid’s broader pitch is to “automate your life” across apps, not just dating. The bigger question is whether products like this will be used as simple reminders and planners, or as a way to avoid effort and honest communication in relationships.

Source: Wired