Artificial intelligence has entered the realm of online dating. But Coffee Meets Bagel’s CEO says there are standards it can’t meet.
Shin Juai The co-CEO of the dating app, which has about 20 million users worldwide, said her team is exploring ways to integrate AI into the app.
But she said using AI chatbots to lure potential matches is a step too far.
“I’m wondering about using chatbots to express myself in online apps and flirt better,” said Juai, who is based in Singapore.
“Eventually you have to meet your partner offline, and when you do, there can be mismatched expectations,” she says. “Your partner may think you were very attractive on the app, but not in person.”
Coffee Meets Bagel promotes its app as “for serious daters” and presents users with about 20 possible matches each day.
Ignoring AI is not the solution
For Coffee Meets Bagel, AI still has a place in the online dating space. Juai said the company plans to use AI to detect scammers and catfish within the app.
“The dating app industry is taking a hit as more users are using AI-generated photos to misrepresent themselves,” she said.
Another useful implementation is to use it to help daters ask better questions of each other, she said.
“Chats get cut off because, especially in Asia, we are shy and don’t like to ask each other questions after “Hello, how are you?”, “What do you do for a living?” and “What are your hobbies?”
Several app makers are considering How to add AI to your dating mix.
Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff said at a technology event in October that AI is “changing everything” for the company’s dating app. Match Group owns Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid, and more.
In April, Tinder released an interactive AI chatbot called The Game Game, which allows users to practice flirting for five minutes with “over-the-top cute encounter scenarios.” Business Insider reporters tried chatbots and found them to be of little use.
CEO of Grinder, George Allison said on an earnings call in November that AI will make apps a “magical experience.”
Other apps like Amata, Facebook Dating, Sitch, and Three Day Rule act like AI-powered matchmakers, narrowing down matches to appeal to daters experiencing swipe fatigue. Two Business Insider reporters who tested the app found it a little pricey, but they appreciated how it did the heavy lifting of planning their dates.
Some daters are also taking matters into their own hands by acquiring tools like ChatGPT and using AI as an ally to help them create Hinge bios and come up with pick-up lines.
Coffee Meets Bagel conducted a survey in November of 1,050 users between the ages of 21 and 35 in the United States. About 80% said they were satisfied with AI-powered dating assistance, including helping decide who to respond to first based on compatibility and answering frequently asked questions.
