Match Group, the parent company of Tinder, Hinge, and OkCupid, released a survey highlighting public sentiment toward AI in dating. The study, which polled 1,000 individuals aged 18 to 39, found that nearly half of U.S. singles have a negative perception of AI's influence in romantic relationships. This sentiment is particularly strong among younger demographics, with 51% of women aged 18 to 24 expressing reluctance to date someone who uses an AI companion app. Match Group noted that while people are not entirely opposed to AI features in dating apps, they remain wary of AI taking over the emotional and relational aspects of dating. The survey also revealed that only 12% of 18- to 24-year-olds reported using AI companion apps in the past three months, and just a third of those users were seeking genuine connections with the chatbots.
Despite the negative views, 64% of respondents said they could see how AI might assist them in their dating journey. This includes using AI to enhance dating profiles, select photos, and maintain conversations. Match Group emphasized that users want AI to handle the 'hard parts' of dating but to leave the actual connection to humans. The company’s blog post stated that singles want help with logistical aspects of dating but not to replace the human element. This suggests that while AI tools are being integrated into dating apps, there is still a clear boundary in how users want these technologies to be used.
The survey comes as dating apps continue to experiment with AI features. Bumble introduced a dating assistant named Bee, and Tinder has significantly increased its investment in AI tools, even slowing down its hiring process. Meanwhile, Hinge’s former CEO launched a new AI-focused dating app. However, the survey underscores that while AI is becoming more prevalent in the dating space, public acceptance remains cautious. The findings suggest that dating app developers should focus on tools that support, rather than replace, human interaction.
Source: techcrunch
