Hinge is using AI to help you find better dates, but the company doesn’t want you dating bots.
“I don’t think that an AI chatbot should be your friend or certainly not your boyfriend or girlfriend,” Hinge CEO Justin McLeod said in an episode of the “Rapid Response” podcast published on Tuesday.
In contrast, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on a May podcast that the average American now has fewer than three close friends and that digital chatbots could help cure this “loneliness epidemic.”
Hinge is owned by Match Group, which also operates dating apps like Tinder and OKCupid. In 2018, Match acquired Hinge, which McLeod cofounded in 2011.
“One of our principles around AI is that it really should stand behind us and not between us,” McLeod said.
He said the app is designed so that users can have better interactions on the app and meet in person faster.
“But it certainly shouldn’t be something that we start engaging with as an end in itself just for entertainment or, I would say, artificial intimacy or artificial connection.”
Hinge’s website says that the company uses AI in two main ways. It recommends personalized matches based on each dater’s previous interactions and preferences, such as age, distance, and family plans. AI also helps users improve their profiles and makes it easier to start conversations.
“We don’t want to put words in their mouths,“ McLeod said on the podcast. “It’s just recognizing that someone’s answer to a prompt could give us more detail. And honestly usually the response is, ‘Can you say more about that,’ or ‘Tell a little bit more why that’s true.'”
On Wednesday, Business Insider created a new profile on the app and used the AI feature to ask for feedback on our answers to conversation-starting prompts. We found one instance of the AI asking to improve responses, and another where it complimented our answer for being fun and interesting.
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Hinge’s prompt: “Together we could” Our response: “Learn a sport together.” AI suggestion: “Try a small change. If you want to add more, consider sharing which sport you’d like to learn or asking about their favourite sports.” Hinge’s prompt: “I’m weirdly attracted to” Our response: “People very passionate about long, nerdy movie franchises” AI suggestion: “Great prompt! It showcases your unique interests and invites fun conversations.”
Match Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hinge is ‘crushing it’
Hinge has become a bright spot in the dating app industry, which is struggling to compete with app fatigue and the growing preference for in-person interactions.
On an earnings call earlier this month, Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff said that Hinge is an example of what can be achieved with a motivated team and a great product.
“Simply put, Hinge is crushing it,” Rascoff said. “Hinge’s success should put to rest any doubts about whether the online dating category is out of favor among users.”
“Hinge’s success gives me pride in Hinge, but also confidence in Tinder,” the Match CEO added.
The dating app’s paying users grew by 18% year over year to 1.7 million, and revenue per paying user grew 6% to nearly $32. Hinge generated $168 million in revenue in the second quarter, a 25% increase from the same time last year.
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