Gen Z dating apps like Ditto ditch swiping in favor of AI matchmaking
This generation of twentysomethings is so disillusioned with swipe-based dating apps that they'll try literally anything else — even an AI matchmaker.
Gen Z dating app Ditto is quite revolutionary in its approach to matchmaking. Unlike traditional swiping apps, Ditto eliminates the tedious process of swiping left or right, and instead uses AI to match users. This innovative dating platform was founded by Allen Wang and Eric Liu after they dropped out of UC Berkeley. They aimed to create an alternative to the endless swiping and awkward small talk on apps like Tinder and Hinge.
Users sign up for Ditto by texting an iMessage number, which introduces an AI chatbot named Ditto. It offers a unique onboarding process where users provide basic information about themselves, followed by more specific questions about their personality, interests, and dating preferences. Users can even upload photos of their celebrity crushes to help the AI understand their type better.
Ditto's algorithm attempts to match users based on deeper aspects of their personalities rather than just hobbies and interests. For instance, if one person is into rock climbing, skydiving, and outdoor sports, and another person is into hip-hop, streetwear, and skateboarding, Ditto might match them together based on their shared adventurous and individualistic nature.
Every Wednesday at 7 p.m., Ditto sends users a match along with the date, time, and location. There's no need for users to text back or do anything but show up and meet their date. This streamlined process removes a significant amount of friction for users, letting them focus on meeting new people.
Currently, 150,000 users have signed up for Ditto, and about 20% of those matches end up going on a date. While the match percentage might seem low, it's significantly higher than the success rate on Tinder. To ensure user safety, Ditto only operates in a few dozen colleges, and users must have a .edu email to sign up. It's worth noting that Ditto's marketing strategies include entertaining videos of robot stunts, which has garnered attention from notable investors like Gradient, Peak XV, Scribble, and even Duolingo's co-founder.
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