Computer Love: Can AI and augmented reality boost online dating

Feb 23, 2017 | Online advertising

The Tinder dating app could include artificial intelligence and augmented reality in the future, to help people find the perfect match, according to its founder. Speaking at the Start-Up Grind technology conference on 21 February, Tinder chairman Sean Rad said that in five years time it might be possible to ask Siri, the virtual assistant […]

The Tinder dating app could include artificial intelligence and augmented reality in the future, to help people find the perfect match, according to its founder.
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Speaking at the Start-Up Grind technology conference on 21 February, Tinder chairman Sean Rad said that in five years time it might be possible to ask Siri, the virtual assistant on iPhones, to find you a date.
“I think this might sound crazy,” Mr Rad said on Tuesday at tech conference Start-Up Grind.
“In five years time, Tinder might be so good, you might be like “Hey [Apple voice assistant] Siri, what’s happening tonight?’
“And Tinder might pop up and say ‘There’s someone down the street you might be attracted to. She’s also attracted to you. She’s free tomorrow night. We know you both like the same band, and it’s playing – would you like us to buy you tickets?’… and you have a match.
“It’s a little scary.”
The Tinder app already uses an algorithm to suggest matches based on location and interests in common, for example, but there are plans to use artificial intelligence proactively to suggest specific dates with neighbours and friends of friends.
Rad also spoke about augmented reality, and how a Pokemon Go-style mobile app could help users find other single people in real time, in the same physical environment.
Rad sees a future where Tinder users could look at a bar or party through the camera of their smartphone, while an overlaid interface would identify who in the room is single and who is not.
The Tinder chairman added: “You can imagine how, with augmented reality, that experience could happen in the room, in real time. The impact is profound as these devices get closer to your senses, to your eyes, to your experiences.”
Currently, Tinder users are shown pictures of singletons looking for a match and either swipe right to find out more about that person, or left to reject them.
The company claims around 1.4bn swipes are made every day, resulting in approximately 26 million daily matches.
Tinder is free to download from Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store, with in-app purchases including a rewind feature and the ability to find dates while abroad.

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