The rise in AI dating comes on the heels of a 2023 survey reporting that younger generations, particularly Gen Z, are open to the idea of exploring AI romantic companions. Although most people are using AI assistants rather than AI significant others — primarily to help them fine-tune their banter, come up with replies, and optimise their profiles — some tech insiders believe that this is where AI’s role in the digital dating sphere is headed. At a recent Bloomberg Tech Summit in San Francisco, Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd claimed that AI dating was the future, saying that AI concierges can date “for you” to whittle down the dating pool prospects that can often be overwhelming.
However, there have already been rumours online of people turning to AI for actual companionship, as if they’re channelling their inner Joaquin Phoenix à la sci-fi romcom Her. In the two days after OpenAI opened its GPT Store — with an explicit rule that disallowed the creation of AI chatbots “dedicated to fostering romantic companionship” — a flurry of virtual girlfriends and boyfriends flooded the GPT store and have since racked up tons of users. The store ordinarily allows users to sell AI chatbots they’ve created.
According to a January 2024 report from Quartz, there are reportedly thousands of ongoing chats with bots like “Judy” and “Your Ex-Girlfriend Jessica” — and it doesn’t seem like the demand is slowing down anytime soon. Meanwhile, platforms like Rep.