How AI matchmakers, virtual pickup lines and other ChatGPT-like tools are taking over online dating

Artificial intelligence is quickly changing the landscape of many businesses – but can technology really help a person find true love?

Many entrepreneurial matchmakers are betting it can, enlisting AI to help tongue-tied romantics break the ice with quirky pickup lines, virtual dating coaches and even erotic pillows talk.

A Snapchat influencer, Caryn Marjorie, recently created an AI clone of herself using ChatGPT that engages prospective “boyfriends” in conversations ranging from basic chit-chat to more advanced discussions about “exploring each other’s bodies all night” – for $1 per minute. payment.

On a broader level, a new dating site has created a virtual dating coach named “Lora” who helps Romeos avoid potential pitfalls in wooing their Juliets.

“Lora would write, ‘I know you like parties and noise. But for the first date, I suggest taking her to a quiet place, walking in the park, taking her to a restaurant or coffee shop or something like that, because she wants you to get to know her better,'” said Lior Baruch, the CEO of A-Love.

A rival, Teaser AI, hit Apple’s App Store last month with a chatbot that handles the initial “talking phase” of online dates — though the app warns users up front that it ” might say some crazy sh-t.” Influencer Caryn Marjorie created her own AI bot. Twitter/@cutiecary

Another app, YourMove AI, generates pick-up lines and other “clever” banter – like responding to someone who says they’re “absolutely in love” with a particular movie by like, “actually, I thought you were the star of the movie.”

The concept of an AI-centric experience has already generated some healthy skepticism among dating experts — with some arguing that virtual “coaches” or pickup artists will ultimately make it harder for people looking for real connections.

“It’s an aid, not a replacement,” said one prominent online dating influencer and content creator, who requested anonymity to discuss freely the industry’s embrace of AI features. CarynAI engages in everything from everyday small talk to erotic flirting.

“I think the danger of using AI as a coach to tell you how to behave is that you remove the human element of who you are, which is important. That’s what makes a person interesting.” the influencer added. “What happens after you start dating after a few months and you can’t maintain a conversational level because it doesn’t feel natural?”

Despite some red flags, there are signs that many singles — especially young people — are asking for automatic dating features.

A whopping 53% of Americans ages 18-29 say they’ve used a dating site or app, according to a February poll by the Pew Research Center, with Tinder, Bumble and Hinge being the most. most popular options. Israeli startup a-love plans to launch AI dating app “Mee+” later this year. https://a-love.ai/

ChatGPT mentions have increased 14-fold since January 1, according to a “future of dating” report released in May by the popular dating app Tinder. The same report found that 34% of 18- to 25-year-olds on Tinder said they would use AI dating tools if they had one.

Baruch, an Israel-based tech entrepreneur, plans to release an app called Mee+ in the US this fall that features his “AI matchmaker” — an automated model trained on data from about 1,500 study that explores the nature of romantic relationships.

To create the algorithm that powers Mee+, the team used research studies to compile a set of 20 “predictors” that would best determine whether two individuals could work as a couple. . Lora uses the predictors, as well as each user’s answers to a series of questions, to build a kind of psych profile that will dictate the kind of matches and dating advice the AI ​​provides. AI dating startups are poised to increase competition for Tinder, Bumble and other mainstays. dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

In a closed beta test of the technology conducted in Israel, more than half of the 25,000 participants were dating — and nearly 200 were engaged or married, according to Baruch, who said the algorithm will only improve as it gathers more time. more information about what works and what doesn’t.

Established dating sites like Bumble, Tinder and Hinge have been using AI in some aspect for years, but have taken a more guarded approach than their freewheeling peers in the startup world.

A Tinder spokesperson declined to comment specifically on future tools that might appear in the app, but said the company is looking into ways to incorporate AI as a kind of “virtual dating coach” that helps users make in their profiles. Bumble already uses AI to improve user safety in its app. Reuters

“We don’t want people to start using AI in a way that they seem like generic, bot-like profiles,” the spokesperson said. “We want to help people know the right things to say about themselves and therefore match with the right people and ultimately date in real life.”

Tinder offers AI features like “is this bothering you?” tool, which automatically flags potentially offensive messages. AI enhancements help the tool to understand context better than just tracking banned keywords.

Bumble has put a heavy emphasis on AI-powered safety features, such as photo verification and a “private detector,” released in 2019, that automatically detects and forwards the bare images.

The latest tools include “best photo,” which helps Bumble users choose the right profile picture to find more matches, and “best bees,” which supposedly uses an improved algorithm to provide a highly curated group of compatible matches.

“We see many opportunities to further integrate AI into our user journey, as this is the tip of the iceberg in using AI to improve our curation and the quality of the connections we make,” the spokesperson said. on Bumble The Post’s Zanna Crowley. Tinder is one of the most popular dating apps. Reuters

Both companies say they are focused on making sure any tools prioritize user safety and lead to real-world connections — rather than a sterile online conversation between two AI bots.

“For years, we’ve used AI in our apps, across safety, content moderation, our recommendations engine, and our personalization and monetization efforts,” Crowley said.

“These results have made a real impact on the entire user experience as we continue to encourage our members to develop real connections that they can build in real life,” he added.