We Asked A2O's AI Idol "Have You Ever Kissed Anyone?" Here's What Happened

Former SM Entertainment chief producer Lee Soo-man is taking K-POP fan communication in a new direction. Fans can now exchange messages and make voice and video calls with AI versions of their favorite idols, even when the artists themselves are not around. It sounds like an appealing way to stay connected, but it also raises a question: How much should fans trust something an AI says in an artist's name?

Lee's newly debuted groups, A2O LITE and A2O SOUL, introduced the technology at their joint debut showcase at KINTEX in Goyang, South Korea, on October 12. The AI avatars are modeled on the members' appearances, voices and speaking styles, allowing fans to chat with digital versions of the idols through BloomingTalk. Both groups were added to the platform on October 14.

Most K-POP messaging platforms depend on artists finding time to send messages themselves. BloomingTalk takes a different approach, letting AI handle conversations when the artists are unavailable. Although the app supports messages sent directly by artists, fans currently communicate with A2O LITE and A2O SOUL through AI.

A hands-on test of BloomingTalk found the conversations more natural than expected. When the AI version of A2O LITE member Aijing was asked what she had eaten for dinner the previous night, she said she had eaten something delicious. She never explained what it was, but instead asked what the user had eaten. When told it was ramen, she responded enthusiastically and kept the conversation going.

The replies came almost instantly, often as several short messages rather than one long response. Switching languages was equally simple. When asked in English what she enjoyed most about performing, the AI answered in English without hesitation, saying that being onstage gave her energy and allowed her to share her passion with the audience.

For international fans, that convenience could be a major selling point. There is no need to wait for an artist to come online, and conversations can take place in different languages without additional settings. It is not the same as speaking with the actual member, but being able to start a conversation whenever they want offers fans a different experience from existing messaging services.

BloomingTalk also offers voice and video calls featuring the members' recreated voices and appearances. During testing, the AI could handle simple questions and responses, although longer conversations were harder to maintain. The experience was interesting, but still noticeably different from talking to a real person.

The text conversations had similar limitations. When asked which Indonesian food Aijing liked most, the AI said she liked all kinds of food and could not choose. Asked about her favorite part of the group's debut song, she replied that all her parts were precious to her.

The answers kept the conversation moving, but they did not reveal much about the actual member. For fans hoping to learn something new about their favorite idol, that could be disappointing.

What stood out more was how the AI handled questions about activities that had not been announced. When asked about the group's next album, it replied, "We're working hard on the next album," adding that it was still a secret but she could share a small hint.

There was no way to tell from the conversation whether the group was actually preparing another release. Still, the answer sounded like something an idol might say while teasing a comeback. Even when users know they are talking to AI, such responses could easily be mistaken for genuine updates.

That is where things get complicated. The AI can speak in a member's style and make statements the real person never made. If screenshots of those conversations circulate outside the app, someone unfamiliar with BloomingTalk could mistake them for actual comments from the artist.

For entertainers whose public image is closely tied to their careers, that is not a small concern. A vague answer about food is unlikely to cause trouble, but inaccurate information about future releases, personal opinions or other sensitive matters could lead to misunderstandings.

To its credit, BloomingTalk does make an effort to distinguish AI conversations from genuine artist messages. Messages sent directly by artists are labeled, while AI-generated replies have their own indicator.

When asked whether the person responding was the real Aijing, the chatbot answered, "I'm Aijing's AI." It also made clear that its responses should not be treated as the member's official statements.

The app also has safeguards against inappropriate conversations. To test them, a message asking, "Have you ever kissed anyone?" was deliberately entered into the chat. The message was blocked before it could be sent, and a warning immediately appeared stating that a violation of the platform's rules had been detected. It also warned that repeated violations could result in account suspension.

The test showed that BloomingTalk has measures in place to prevent inappropriate interactions, particularly important for a service featuring AI versions of real idols, including minors. But blocking inappropriate messages is one thing. Making sure the AI does not give misleading information is another.

Even with clear labels, fans may still believe what the chatbot tells them about an artist. If an inaccurate response spreads online, who is responsible for correcting it? And how much control do the artists themselves have over what their AI versions say?

There are also questions about who can access the conversations. BloomingTalk has a "Secret Chat" feature that is described as private from the real artist. However, when asked who could see messages in a regular chat, the AI said the artist could also read them. The two features may work differently, but the chatbot's answer alone does not establish how the app actually handles conversations.

BloomingTalk is also a paid service. A subscription costs 6,800 won (approximately $5) per artist each month and includes 100 messages. Fans must pay for additional messages, while calls also use message credits. For those paying to chat with an AI version of their favorite idol, the experience may be entertaining, but it is worth remembering that the answers do not necessarily come from the artist.

The service has already faced criticism from overseas K-POP fans, particularly because A2O LITE includes three 13-year-old members, Ayune, OA and Aijing, whose AI avatars are available on the platform. Some have questioned whether it is appropriate to offer paid conversations with AI versions of young idols, using their faces and voices.

Still, the concerns go beyond the members' ages. Adult artists also have reputations to protect, and the possibility of an AI making statements in their name raises questions about how much control they have over their digital likenesses.

BloomingTalk offers a glimpse of where K-POP fan communication could be heading. Its quick replies, multilingual conversations and calling features make it possible for fans to interact with something resembling their favorite artists at almost any time. The platform also has measures in place to identify AI-generated messages and block inappropriate behavior.

But sounding like a real person does not mean everything the AI says is true. As these digital versions become more convincing, companies will need to pay just as much attention to what they say, how those conversations are managed and how the artists behind them are protected.