Grindr, the leading dating app for the LGBTQ community, announced a strategic partnership with generative AI company Ex-human to add an AI assistant to its platform.
Founded in 2021, Ex-human has carved out a niche in the world of AI with custom chatbots. Unlike traditional AI models that focus on answering fact-based queries, Ex-human’s chatbot, popular on consumer site Botify.ai, is designed to resonate emotionally and engage in meaningful conversations.
Ex-human offers a variety of virtual companions, from a virtual geisha to an AI version of Elon Musk, all of whom appear as 3D models that display facial expressions and reactions to prompts. This focus on emotional engagement is what sets Ex-human apart and is consistent with Grindr’s initiative to enhance the social interaction aspect of dating.
Grindr CEO George Arison emphasized the competitive urgency of this AI venture in an interview with Bloomberg.
“If we don’t do it, someone else will. If you’re not first to market in AI, you’ll miss out.”
Implementing AI into the Grindr ecosystem is expected to expand the user experience by providing features such as dating advice, conversation starters, and personalized recommendations based on personal profiles.
Arison also introduced the ‘Grindr Wingman’ concept, a digital assistant that aims to enrich the dating process. This innovative feature can suggest meeting places and music, and can even help you craft responses to messages that match your match personality.
These developments are promising, but they also bring privacy concerns to the forefront. In response, Arison assured that the integration of Ex-human’s technology into Grindr will be handled with the utmost care for user data privacy. He said the AI integration will ensure personal data remains within Grindr’s secure infrastructure, addressing potential concerns about data misuse.
The move toward AI-assisted dating isn’t limited to Grindr. A similar trend is occurring in the broader dating app industry. As reported decryption, Tinder is testing AI tools for message suggestions and profile creation. However, with technological innovation comes the risk of misuse. A notable concern is the emergence of AI-based scams, such as the “LoveGPT” tool, which leverages the power of AI to create broader, more sophisticated schemes.
The ethical implications of AI in dating are also important. As reported decryptionA survey by AttractionTruth found that 20% of heterosexual men are already using AI to improve their online dating experience, and nearly 40% reported improved interactions.
In the evolving digital dating landscape, OkCupid’s approach provides more insight. “Daters who find ChatGPT a lifesaver get almost 40% more matches on OkCupid than those who think it’s too big a brother,” Michael Kaye, OkCupid’s director of communications, told Mashable.
Grindr’s foray into AI-assisted dating shows how AI is becoming a cultural phenomenon that permeates much of human interaction, just as social media marked a pivotal moment at the intersection of technology and personal relationships two decades ago.
Once these features are released, they will transform how individuals interact on dating platforms and potentially redefine the landscape of digital intimacy. In this new era, our digital wingmen may become our indispensable advisors in navigating the complex world of modern dating, or they will handle the entire tedious flirting process and leave it to humans to manage everything that comes next.
Edited by Ryan Ozawa.
