Is AI your new wingman? How chatbots are transforming dating

A recent survey conducted by Match Group, the owner of dating apps Tinder and Hinge, has found that over a third of British singles have turned to AI for assistance in their romantic endeavors. Almost 40% have utilized AI for romantic advice, including crafting messages and evaluating potential partners.

For 27-year-old Sam from Stoke-on-Trent, AI has essentially become his wingman, providing pep talks and vetting his messages. He admits that while he prefers beginning a romantic relationship in person, the dating landscape has shifted, with online interactions being the norm.

The survey revealed that younger generations are even more reliant on AI for dating. Sixty-six percent of Gen Z (people born in the mid-1990s to early 2010s) and 53% of millennials (born in the early 1980s to mid-90s) have used AI in their romantic lives.

Common uses of AI in dating include seeking advice about someone they're talking to, planning date ideas, practicing conversations, writing dating profiles and messages, and verifying the authenticity of profiles or photos. However, altering photos using AI is generally frowned upon by most singles.

While some singles, like a single mother from New Zealand and a man from Melbourne, have found AI to be a helpful mentor or speed up their dating process, a significant number of people express concerns about the use of AI in dating. A third of UK singles said they would end a date if they discovered the other person had used AI to write their messages.

Match Group's head of trust and safety, Yoel Roth, has taken a firm stance against AI-to-AI dating, arguing that it doesn't foster genuine human connection. Despite these concerns, many singles see AI as a tool to enhance their dating prospects, even if it sometimes feels like a robotic romantic future where chatbots handle the dating work.