AI News Monitor

While these advancements aim to ease the pressures of online dating, critics argue they could backfire.

Dating apps are set to introduce AI bots to help users flirt, craft messages, and even write profiles, but experts warn this could further erode human authenticity in an already fraught digital dating landscape. Match Group, the parent company of Tinder and Hinge, has announced increased investment in AI, with new features rolling out this month. These include AI tools to select the most appealing profile photos, write messages, and offer “effective coaching” for users struggling to connect.

While these advancements aim to ease the pressures of online dating, critics argue they could backfire. Academics, including Dr. Luke Brunning, a lecturer in applied ethics at the University of Leeds, warn that relying on AI to navigate conversations could leave users ill-prepared for real-life interactions. This could exacerbate social anxiety and push people further into the comfort of digital spaces, undermining trust in the authenticity of others on the apps.

Dr. Brunning, who has coordinated an open letter calling for regulatory protections against AI on dating apps, argues that using unregulated technology to solve social problems created by technology is a flawed approach. “Automated profile-enhancing entrenches a culture where people feel they must constantly outperform others to win,” he said. “This isn’t helping people be vulnerable or accept imperfection—it’s making dating even more competitive and superficial.”

The letter, signed by academics from the UK, US, Canada, and Europe, warns that the rapid adoption of generative AI on dating platforms risks worsening loneliness, mental health crises, and social inequality. It could also reinforce biases and further erode real-life social skills.

Despite these concerns, proponents argue that AI could reduce dating app fatigue and burnout. For example, Aleksandr Zhadan, a product manager, used ChatGPT to swipe and chat with over 5,000 women on Tinder, eventually meeting his now-fiancée.

Match Group and Bumble have both emphasized their commitment to ethical AI use. A Match Group spokesperson stated, “We are dedicated to designing AI experiences that respect user trust and align with our mission to drive meaningful connections.” Bumble added that AI aims to “enhance safety, optimise user experiences, and empower people to represent their most authentic selves.”

As regulators begin to scrutinize the social impact of platforms like social media, Dr. Brunning urges them to extend their focus to dating apps. “They target our most intimate emotions and desires,” he said. “They should be drawing the attention of regulators.”

With millions of users worldwide, the integration of AI into dating apps marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of digital romance—one that could either foster deeper connections or deepen the divide between the digital and the real.