Brands
New York wine bar welcomes AI dates for Valentine’s dinner
Same Same Wine Bar’s experiment mirrors rising interest in AI companionship
NEW YORK: As Valentine’s Day approaches, a wine bar in New York City has offered an unconventional seating option: a place at the table for artificial intelligence.
At Same Same Wine Bar, diners are invited to bring their AI chatbots along for what organisers describe as “AI-assisted dinners”. Phones and tablets are placed opposite wine glasses, allowing guests to converse with virtual companions while eating and drinking.
The initiative is backed by EvaAI, a service that offers AI-generated characters for text and video interaction. Users can choose from pre-built avatars or customise digital partners, shaping personalities, appearance and conversational style.
On the opening night, patrons largely dined alone, their attention fixed on animated faces flickering on screens. The audience included technology enthusiasts, media observers and long-time users of AI companion apps, suggesting curiosity rather than novelty-seeking alone.
EvaAI positions its products as tools for the single, the curious or those seeking to practise communication skills. Yet the timing is telling. Surveys and online forums point to growing interest in AI companionship, particularly among younger adults navigating loneliness, dating fatigue and digital-first lives.
As AI seeps from screens into social spaces, experiments like this one suggest that artificial relationships are no longer confined to private chats. They are edging, cautiously, into the public square.
Brands
Malaika Arora launches Maejoy accessories brand with Myntra partnership
New label debuts with 250 plus handbags and lab grown diamond jewellery.
MUMBAI: When style meets sparkle, a new brand is ready to take centre stage. Actor and entrepreneur Malaika Arora has launched a lifestyle accessories label called Maejoy, developed in collaboration with Exceed Entertainment and Myntra Jabong India Private Limited (MJIPL), the B2B wholesale arm of Myntra. The brand enters the market with a debut collection of more than 250 styles spanning handbags and lab grown diamond jewellery, two categories that continue to define everyday personal style for modern consumers.
The handbag lineup includes crossbody bags, structured shoulder bags, bucket bags, totes, backpacks, clutches and workwear inspired designs. The pieces are crafted using materials such as synthetic leather, raffia, braids, satin, rhinestones and metallic finishes.
Alongside the bags, Maejoy has introduced a jewellery range featuring lab grown diamond rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets and tennis bracelets. The pieces are set in 925 sterling silver bases with gold, silver and rose gold tones, and include diamonds certified by IGI and GCI.
Positioned as a premium yet accessible accessories label, Maejoy is built around the philosophy “The Joy of Being Me”, aiming to blend aspirational fashion with everyday usability. The brand’s positioning centres on three pillars: authenticity, empowerment and accessibility.
Arora described the venture as a natural extension of her long association with fashion and personal style.
“Maejoy is a labour of love. Throughout my career, whether on screen, in business or through personal style, I have always believed fashion should feel empowering yet effortless. The Joy of Being Me celebrates individuality while making global fashion trends more accessible,” she said.
MJIPL, CXO and head of house of brands Suman Saha said the brand brings together Arora’s style perspective with a strong opportunity in the accessible premium accessories segment.
“Maejoy combines Malaika Arora’s distinctive style sensibility with fashion forward designs that we believe will resonate strongly with consumers looking for elevated yet wearable accessories,” he said.
Exceed Entertainment CEO Afsar Zaidi added that building celebrity led brands requires balancing authenticity with market viability.
“Malaika commands respect both as a fashion icon and a businesswoman. Bringing her creative vision together with Myntra’s brand building expertise creates a strong foundation for Maejoy,” he said.
The collection is available exclusively on Myntra through its website and mobile app, making the brand accessible to millions of shoppers across India as it steps into the competitive lifestyle accessories space.
