Love in the time of artificial intelligence

Meeting someone on the internet was once the geekiest way to start a relationship.

Now seemingly everyone who’s single is on the apps, but even that might not be enough anymore.

Swiping into AI

Dating apps, like every other app, are betting big on AI integration.

Grindr is launching an “AI wingman” chatbot to offer “tailored advice and even suggest date spots,” per Wired.

• The chatbot doesn’t search the web, so it can only get so specific, but (unlike the PG-rated ChatGPT) it can offer tips for dates that go — ahem — particularly well.

Iris Dating is built around an AI learning your type and then matching you with similar people.

• Similarly, app conglomerate Match Group (which owns Match, Tinder, Hinge, and several others) plans to add AI features to its biggest apps.
• Tinder’s AI Photo Selector scans your camera roll and finds your best pics.
• Hinge now lets you ask an AI for feedback on how to make your profile stronger.

It’s hard out there, even for apps

More dating app users are complaining about fatigue.

• The efficiency and inherent superficiality can encourage ghosting and make dating feel like work.
• Some apps’ stock prices and user numbers are down — even Hinge, the app that wants to be deleted — though Match Group maintains that things are fine, per Mashable.

That’s where AI comes in. These companies are hoping that removing some of the monotony will bring back the fun of swiping.

Relationship expert Jennifer Gunsaullus told Mashable that communication skills are an important part of dating and that AI removes that — but maybe someday that’ll be like saying dating should still be about winning a princess’s hand in an archery contest, like it was before the internet.