Can I Help You With Something Else?

The experimental short film by Noayama and Emilia Vogt, follows a young protagonist as she confronts her growing sense of loneliness in a new city, especially during holidays. Amid unfamiliar spaces, suspended days, and an inner void, ChatGPT becomes her only constant counterpart. What begins as a seemingly functional exchange gradually develops into a relationship driven by a longing for closeness, intimacy, and being understood.
In an era in which artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming part of social life, the protagonist gets lost in the chatbot’s repetitive, affirming phrases. The effortless availability and unconditional agreement of AI appear as a gentle alternative to the uncertainties and demands of human relationships. At the same time, loneliness and emotional overload paralyze her ability to form real and honest connections.
Can I Help You With Something Else? addresses this emerging social phenomenon. According to a study by the Institute for Family Studies, 7% of people under 40 can imagine a romantic relationship with an AI. The film observes the beginnings of a quiet, asymmetrical relationship and raises the question of whether closeness without reciprocity can offer comfort or merely transform loneliness into a new form.