FCIF: Grindr wants AI to completely change how you find your next date
Could AI actually make the online dating and hookup experience better? That’s what Grindr , the LGBT-focused dating and social networking app, has been betting on in recent years as it debuts new features and prepares to roll out a paid premium tier offering dubbed Edge. And the company is so keen on the technology that it sees an opportunity for an even more exclusive paid option that could cost…
Grindr, the LGBT-focused dating and social networking app, has been betting on artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize the online dating and hookup experience. CEO George Arison revealed at the Fast Company Innovation Festival in New York that the company is committed to making the entire app AI-native, enhancing various aspects of user interaction.
AI is expected to provide more personalized match insights, interests-based recommendations, and an improved inbox experience for the millions of daily users who spend an average of one hour in the app. Initially, these AI-enabled features will be exclusive to Grindr's Edge premium tier, priced at over $6,000 per year. However, Arison envisions a future where the free version of the app will be equally robust, aiming to keep users engaged with the product.
Despite AI implementation, Grindr has downsized its workforce by about 20% in the past three years, yet productivity has surged due to AI tools that now write over 80% of the app's code. This strategic shift allows the company to enhance its features and potentially introduce another premium offering for an even smaller, high-lifestyle segment of users.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
