The AI girlfriend experience isn’t sci-fi anymore. The dynamic is quickly normalized, which seems even more plausible now, as people across the world are starting to “socialize” with character AIs with increasing frequency. He goes on a double-date with his coworker and his coworker’s human girlfriend without any fuss or embarrassment, and he hears stories about other people dating operating systems as well. While Theodore’s ex-wife Catherine (Rooney Mara) dismisses his relationship with an OS as a sign of emotional immaturity, most of the people in Theodore’s life accept it fairly easily. She’s portrayed as inherently good, a sensitive and kind being with no ill will toward the humans who created her. Near the end of the film, Theodore is distraught when she reveals that he’s not her only boyfriend-she has over 600 other romantic partners-but her polyamory is portrayed as evidence that she and Theodore are not compatible rather than something sinister on her part. There’s no hint of a heel turn from Samantha. Watching Her today, as AI advances dominate conversations in tech, it’s interesting to see the warm-and-fuzzy approach to the rise of AGI companions.