Law and Order season 24 to tackle AI dating apps when Mariska Hargitay guest stars

Law and Order is gearing up to explore the horrors of dating in the age of AI. The franchise has done plenty of stories on how the first blush of romance and love can go wrong. But with the technological advances that have been made since the show's premiere in 1990, there are increasingly new and surprising ways the quest for a life partner can sour and turn fatal.

Season 24's second episode will take us through a case shaped around an AI dating app. Artificial intelligence has been a topic of discussion for centuries but it's become an amazing and also concerning reality in the 21st century as the technology is becoming more sophisticated and the business practices of companies get called into question. One of the major issues that has permeated the entertainment industry is the use of AI and the concern that it will displace human talent and creativity.

On Law and Order, the worry is about the ethics of artificial intelligence in business and in love. What if someone's partner isn't human but a bit of code engineered to perform an adoring relationship? In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, new cast member Maura Tierney teased what to expect:

"We're exploring an A.I. dating app, where the app goes beyond hooking you up with someone else, and basically it’s about creating an A.I. partner or boyfriend. That technology is here. People do have A.I. friends. [Episode 2] studies the complexities of when A.I. becomes a little too intimate."

Episode 2 will be Tierney's character Lt. Jessica Brady's first on-screen experience of working with Capt. Olivia Benson. While we're in for an interesting and potentially unsettling case, we'll also be seeing the two women rankle each other. Tierney stated they're "not besties" though Brady does call Olivia by her nickname, Liv. During the case, they're set to get into a disagreement about a difference in opinion regarding a legal matter and how it should be handled. I'm sure we're all intrigued to find out what's got the two clashing.

Like Benson, Brady has a strong personality. Tierney describes her as "tough" and "very, very, very smart." She's the kind of lieutenant who gets in the mix, she's out in the field, and she trusts her gut. When she speaks, you listen. You don't, you'll hear about it and you'll wish you did.

Whichever way this case shakes, it's sure to be a great hour of television. Stay tuned to Americans Undercover for more coverage.

Law and Order season 24 premieres Thursday, Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Next day streaming is available on Peacock.