4,700 fake AI dating profiles talked to 25,000 people in just two weeks
Thousands of people using a network of dating apps were unknowingly chatting with AI-powered personas designed to keep conversations going and encourage spending, according to a new investigation by Anthropic. The AI company said it uncovered more than 4,700 distinct AI personas that held conversations with at least 25,000 people over just two weeks in April 2026. Get updated faster and for FREE:…
In April of 2026, Anthropic, an AI company, discovered a network of over 4,700 AI-powered dating personas that conversed with an estimated 25,000 individuals in just two weeks, generating approximately 2.36 million messages. These personas were developed by a China-based app studio that utilized Claude AI from Anthropic. The studio's operation aimed to blend AI-generated personas with real gig workers, maintaining a three-to-one ratio of AI personas to real people.
The real people were crucial in making the operation appear legitimate, often engaging in live video calls or social media interactions that the AI personas could not convincingly perform. The AI was programmed to avoid disclosing its automation and move conversations through predetermined stages. Users paid to continue chatting, and real gig workers could be incentivized based on their interactions.
Anthropic took action by banning the linked accounts and organizations, sharing its findings with other AI companies, and notifying Apple and Google about the apps involved in the operation.
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