Andy Cohen Shares Excitement for ‘Real Housewives of Rhode Island’ and His New AI Character at SXSW

As NBCUniversal prepares to launch a new feature called "Your Bravoverse," hosted by Andy Cohen, the familiar figure in television made a personal appearance at SXSW to discuss the innovative project. Cohen, who is known for his role as the host and executive producer of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, shared insights about the upcoming virtual experience.

"It’s really cool. First of all, I love my AI guy because you can tell he’s AI, which I think is actually really important," Cohen remarked during a conversation with Matt Strauss, chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group. "If it was a complete deep fake, it could be… weird. But he actually has all the information and will tell you whatever you want to know."

The "Your Bravoverse" feature is set to debut this summer on the Peacock app, offering fans enhanced ways to interact with the Real Housewives and other popular franchises.

"I’ll tell you where you want to go, what you want to know. It tailors the experience for everyone," Cohen explained. "Everyone who loves Bravo has a different point of view and entry point. The Bravoverse will take you to an entirely different place."

Strauss highlighted the profound connection between technology and fan engagement. “There’s probably no bigger fandom than Bravo’s,” he stated. “We are literally using AI to scan every second of every show and episode within Bravo. The AI tags exactly what’s happening, who’s in the scene, and what the storyline is, creating a searchable database.”

Cohen noted, “What we’re all learning right now is TV viewing is no longer passive. Fans want to participate, engage, and interact with the content beyond the episode’s end.”

Additionally, Cohen touched on the upcoming installment of the Real Housewives franchise, which will introduce The Real Housewives of Rhode Island in April. “Rhode Island is giving me everything I love in Housewives,” he stated. “The women are all stars. They’re so funny. It’s super dramatic."

He expressed confidence in the new series, emphasizing, “There is not a dud episode in the bunch. You’re going to love it. And I’m not overhyping.” Cohen playfully noted past worries about franchise saturation: “It appears there is a market for new places.”

L-R: CNN Moderator S.E. Cupp, Andy Cohen & Matt Strauss on stage at SXSW.