Jack is on a quest to find the love of his life.
He has tried Hinge, exclusive dating apps and even paid for Bumble Premium. Now, he is turning to artificial intelligence. “Give me a fun short write-up of who I am for a dating app,” the 38-year-old San Francisco-based data science professional typed into ChatGPT.
He requested a pseudonym for this article, citing concerns over his upcoming visa renewal. For nearly a year, the chatbot has been his trusted companion, helping him pick out outfits and learn guitar.
“The Alfred to my Batman,” he calls it.
Now, he hopes AI can help him find romance. Jack pasted ChatGPT’s suggested bio into Hinge, describing himself as someone who values shared moments, growth and laughter. But his AI wingman failed to improve his already single-digit success rate on the app.
He is among a growing number of daters using AI to navigate online romance. With more than half of US adults under 30 having used a dating app, according to Pew Research Centre, AI promises to ease the burden of endless swiping and awkward conversations. Dating platforms are also embracing the technology.
Bumble is exploring AI-driven matchmaking, Grindr is piloting bot-to-bot conversations to vet potential dates, and Hinge offers AI assistance with profiles and conversation starters.
“If your end goal is to get offline and meet the love of your life, you probably want any tool that’s going to help you do that,” says Jui Ramaprasad, a professor of information systems at the University of Maryland, College Park.
AI is also becoming a popular tool for crafting opening messages, says Kathryn Coduto, an assistant professor of me dia science at Boston University.
Many users feel intense pressure to make a strong first impression.
Jack has even uploaded photographs to ChatGPT for feedback. The chatbot recommended an image of him with a dog, describing him as “vulnerable” and “gentle”.
But AI-assisted dating raises questions about authenticity and consent.