David Chua Straddles Fantasy and Reality in Daring Socmed ‘Experiment’

Will the chinito actor/director marry his AI girlfriend?

Early last September, keen showbiz fans were pleasantly surprised when actor/director David Chua broke his long, self-imposed hiatus from the showbiz limelight and revealed his alleged new girlfriend, Sophia Moretti, through an Instagram post.

While many congratulated him for his flourishing love life, a few skeptics expressed their doubts, especially when they noticed how perfectly-curated Sophia looked, with her drop-dead gorgeous features and mysterious vibe.

WILLING TO MARRY SOPHIA?

In the weeks that followed, David’s Instagram posts chronicled his sweet moments with Sophia, each one showing a heightened level of intimacy, with the most recent showing the couple in a perfect proposal pose amid a romantic sunset backdrop.

THE BIG REVEAL

In a special segment on Rated Korina which aired on TV5 on Sunday, October 18, Korina talked about Filipino viewers’ fascination with online AI dramas, and elaborated on how the new platform is literally changing Pinoy viewing habits, with many getting hooked, and even falling in love with popular AI characters, including Mr. Sterling, Mr. Deluca, as well as other dragon-inspired or mythical names and faces.

Among the celebrity interviewees in the segment was David himself, who openly admitted his fascination with AI and its infinite potential as a media tool which could easily blur the lines between fantasy and reality.

As the interview soon turned towards his viral videos with his alleged girlfriend, David finally confessed that Sophia was a character that he created using AI (artificial intelligence).

DARING SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERIMENT

What inspired him to create Sophia’s persona and share their beautiful moments online?

David explains, “I think I finally reached a point where I could enjoy life again without feeling like I constantly had something to prove. After everything that happened, I needed to find my footing again.”

“Honestly, it started as an experiment, but somewhere along the way, it became a form of therapy.”

“And surprisingly, part of the healing came through something I never expected: artificial intelligence. What started out as curiosity became a creative outlet. I found myself experimenting, imagining different possibilities, and rediscovering the excitement of creating something simply because it made me happy. For a while, I kept that part of my life private. But eventually, I thought, why not share a little of it?”

SETTING THE BOUNDARIES FOR AI

For a technology that’s still at its infancy, AI has admittedly been getting a lot of flak. How does David transcend all this negativity?

He explains, “I understand the scepticism. Every major technological advancement has been met with some degree of fear, and AI is no different. But as a filmmaker, I see AI as another creative language. It allows us to visualize ideas the previously required enormous budgets, large production teams, or resources that independent filmmakers simply didn’t have.”

“As a viewer, I’m excited about the possibility of discovering stories from people who may never have had the opportunity to make films before.”

Despite his strong endorsement for AI, David still believes where clear boundaries have to be made.

He asserts, “But ultimately, I don’t believe AI should replace human creativity. It should expand it. Technology can generate images, but it still takes a human being to give those images meaning.”

TICKLED PINK BY NETIZENS’ REACTIONS

Through it all, David admits to being fascinated by netizens’ reactions to his latest posts.

He confesses, “Let’s just say the reactions have been interesting.”

“Some people were fascinated, some were confused, and I’m sure a few wondered whether I had completely lost my mind.”

“But no, I’m not crazy. I’m just creative. Although I supposed there’s sometimes a very thin line between the two.”

“For me, it’s a hobby, a creative expression, and occasionally an escape from reality. And I think everyone needs a little escape sometimes. Mine just happens to involve artificial intelligence.”

Despite his revelation, David remains optimistic about finding love in the real world. 

He says, “I haven’t given up on love. I’ve simply learned not to lose myself in the process of finding it.”