On dating apps, men use AI to put their best face forward
How much AI is too much when it comes to finding love on the apps? "It's very subtle," one dating app user said of his AI-enhanced photos.
Dating apps are increasingly becoming the stage for men to enhance their online presence using artificial intelligence (AI). Women report spotting photos on these platforms that seem digitally altered, sometimes to an extent that appears to be AI-generated. Marissa, a 31-year-old Boston resident, shared her experience of coming across such photos, which often seem too perfect. She questioned the appeal of these photos, which could be easily edited using common tools like Photoshop.
However, the use of AI in dating photos has raised ethical concerns. Kathryn Coduto, a Boston University assistant professor, explained that AI has made people more skeptical of others, especially those they don't know. Dating app users usually rely on filters and editing tools to polish their photos, but AI tools now allow for high-quality images in seconds, sometimes fabricating fake scenes.
Though not exclusive to men, AI to spruce up dating profiles appears more common among men than women. This is likely because men have a harder time standing out in the dating space. AI can create obvious distortions, such as omitting a finger from someone's hand, but distinguishing real photos from those generated by AI is becoming increasingly difficult as technology advances.
Lana Li, a dating consultant who uses AI to help men improve their dating app photos, defends the use of AI as long as the photos genuinely represent who the person is. She uses AI to subtly change men's outfits, hairstyles, or body language, and even uses FaceApp to alter facial expressions. However, she refuses to cross certain lines, such as altering someone's head to match a body part that doesn't match.
Some men have used AI tools to enhance their dating app photos for professional reasons. One 30-year-old tech employee in New York City used AI to change his hair and dress more professionally without changing his essence. However, another 50-something-year-old man in New York City had his Hinge account banned after using AI to create a photo of himself on a Manhattan roof.
He suspected that this photo might have been the reason for his removal. Despite the controversy, most popular dating apps have policies against using AI-generated images, emphasizing the importance of authenticity.
Written by urgent.news from CBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
