In another fifteen minutes, the lights in the hall are dimmed and the massive screen on the stage comes to life with a dazzling multimedia display heralding the arrival of the AILENA app. Then Asmitha walks on stage. Dressed in an ultramarine business suit and pearls, her confidence and charisma are palpable as she approaches the mic and starts the presentation. As she talks, I can see that the audience is captivated by this vision of the God-woman, aka the creator. She touches on every relevant topic, from revolutionizing dating and matchmaking to empowering individuals and shaping the future of technology keeping sustainability in mind. I feel a sense of pride, for I’m part of the history she’s making right here in the heart of Bengaluru.

But my heart is also pounding, because she’s approaching the end of her presentation and then it’ll be my turn to speak as AILENA’s very first investor. Although, truth be told, it’s not the speech that is making me anxious, it’s the possibility of connecting again with Kiana.

When Asmitha finally ends her presentation, the entire hall is filled with applause. The event emcee walks on stage and announces that they’ll take a few questions from the audience before moving on to my keynote address. People immediately raise their hands, ready to ask whatever burning questions they have in their hearts.

‘Hello Asmitha!’ shouts a young reporter with a digital notebook in her hand. ‘Can you tell us what inspired you to create the AILENA app?’

Even from this distance, I can see Asmitha’s eyes sparkling with passion as she answers the question, ‘As a data scientist and an AI enthusiast, I’ve always been fascinated by the complexities of love and compatibility. I wanted to create a tool that could help people find their perfect match in a world where traditional methods of matchmaking are often a hit or miss. And as a mother, I want this world to be a place full of love and meaningful relationships.’

The reporters waste no time, firing off questions like arrows aimed at unravelling the mysteries behind this groundbreaking technology.

Another reporter chimes in, ‘But isn’t it possible that relying on artificial intelligence for something as deep as love could lead to shallow connections?’

Asmitha nods thoughtfully. ‘I understand the concern, but our app is designed to go beyond surface-level compatibility metrics. We’ve developed advanced algorithms that take into account not just interests and hobbies, but also values, personality traits and emotional compatibility. Our goal is to foster meaningful connections that have the potential to last a lifetime.’

A sceptical voice pipes up from somewhere in the back of the hall. ‘How can a robot truly understand matters of the heart? Isn’t there a risk of it getting things wrong and causing more harm than good?’