Zach Braff denies dating AI chatbot after viral podcast rumors spread
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Zach Braff responds to rumors that he has an AI Chatbot girlfriend.
The 50-year-old actress took to her Instagram stories on March 12 to dispel rumors that she was romantically involved with an AI Chatbot; this will happen for the first time in December 2025″I need you friends” podcast.
“I’m not dating a chatbot,” Braff wrote in his story alongside a screenshot from the podcast. “I can’t believe I have to write these words. This is a story on the next episode of ‘Scrubs’. Maybe it came from this? I’m not sure. But it’s not me. Love, the guy is not dating his chatbot. Please update all gossip sites.”
In another slide on her stories, Braff added that she “had no idea until tonight” that the gossip started on the podcast because she doesn’t have a TikTok account.
Braff denied rumors that she was dating an artificial intelligence chatbot. (Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
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On the December 16 episode of the podcast hosted by Max Silvestri, Jenny Slate, and Gabe Liedman, the trio spoke with actor Kumail Nanjiani, and Silvestri mentioned that he knew an actor who had an AI girlfriend.
“There is a well-known actor who is currently in a romantic relationship with his AI chatbot,” Silvestri said. “And [he] He takes the chatbot with him and talks to the chatbot. I guess it’s on the phone or the computer or whatever.”
Braff posted a screenshot of the podcast on his Instagram story. (Zach Braff’s Instagram)
When pressed for more details, Silvestri said the actor was “as close to the best roster TV can get” and then added that he “has also appeared in movies.” When Silvestri later texted the group the player’s name, Nanjiani responded: “Excellent! I’ll say good explanation, not A-list.”
After further discussion, Slate chimed in and said: “We can’t put this on our podcast. It’s not cool.” Braff took a screenshot of this episode and added the following caption: “I think now is a good time to be kind to people.”
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Braff said now might be a good time to be nice to each other. (Roby Klein/Getty Images for SCAD)
In response to Braff’s social media post, Silvestri defended himself on his Instagram story, saying he had “never mentioned this man’s name in my entire life.”
“Aren’t there more important stories in the world right now? Between tariffs and energy prices, the average American can’t afford to charge his girlfriend,” he said.
Fans connected Braff to the story after a different but similar story was brought up on a February episode of Caleb Hearon’s podcast.Very True,” in a conversation with Chris Fleming. Although he did not name the actor, Fleming referred to him as “Mr. Tumnus”, a term he had used to refer to Braff in the past.
Braff’s last public relationship was with actress Florence Pugh. The two started dating in 2019 after meeting on social media in 2018. They later worked together on Braff’s short film “In the Time It Takes to Get There”.
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Braff was with Florence Pugh for three years. (Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
The two were together for several years before quietly splitting in early 2022. The duo dealt with scrutiny during their relationship due to their 21-year age difference.
When they first met, Pugh was 24 and Braff was 45.
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“I’m 24 years old. I don’t need you to tell me who I should or shouldn’t love, and I would never tell anyone in my life who they can or can’t love. That’s not your place,” Pugh said in an April 2020 Instagram video addressing the scrutiny.
Braff has dated actresses Mandy Moore, Shiri Appleby and Taylor Bagley in the past.
