You know the online dating scene is bad when dating giants like Tinder are now introducing AI personas for users to flirt with.
On Tuesday, the company announced a new game powered by OpenAI, allowing users to interact with an AI bot to practice flirting, reenact meet-cute scenarios, and receive scores with suggestions for improving their dating skills.
To play Tinder’s The Game Game, tap the Tinder logo in the top-left corner of the app. The game gives users a deck of cards, with each one featuring a different AI persona and scenario. Users must use their voices to respond and try to flirt their way into getting a date with the bot.
After the interaction, users are scored on a three-point scale using flame emojis. The AI provides real-time feedback throughout the experience. If users are rude, for instance, the AI offers suggestions to improve the conversation.
According to the company, the new game is intended to provide a fun and lighthearted experience, not to be taken too seriously. It’s only available for U.S. users on iOS for a limited time.
However, the trend of people flirting with AI bots is becoming scarily popular, and Tinder seems to be banking on this as a way to attract more users amid its struggles for growth. There are already existing apps in this space, such as Replika’s AI dating sim Blush, Teaser, and Rizz.
Tinder has announced other AI features, such as an AI photo selector tool that launched last year and upcoming features for discovery and matching.
Lauren covers media, streaming, apps and platforms at TechCrunch.
