Is ChatGPT's artificial intelligence a gamechanger for online dating?

Even though the majority of singles in New Zealand now rely on modern technology by using dating apps to find a partner, love is still no easy task.

Maybe artificial intelligence can help in the search for a partner?

ChatGPT seems to be a suitable companion here – it’s a chat bot from OpenAI, a company that specializes in artificial intelligence and is sponsored by Elon Musk and Microsoft. Many ChatGPT users are excited about this revolutionary technology and are coming up with more and more uses for it.

Some ChatGPT users have also actually used this chat bot in Tinder, as you can see from a quick search on TikTok.

In this article, we take a closer look at artificial intelligence's prospects for online dating. Can we use ChatGPT to compose texts that romance a potential partner? After all, anyone who’s ever decided to try online dating has encountered the question – whether it’s upon reading a profile or on the hot seat, in a chat: "What should I write?!"

To see if AI might really be a gamechanger here, we tried it ourselves. We also looked at previous reviews and the past successes of ChatGPT.

• What is ChatGPT and how does this particular AI work?
• Examples of opening lines after making a match
• Examples of a Tinder bio made by a text generator.

So, does this mean an end to empty platitudes and unimaginative messages once and for all, or is this bot just a fancy gimmick?

What is ChatGPT and how does this particular AI work?

Artificial intelligence is nothing new in online dating and has been used by dating agencies like eHarmony for quite some time. Here, an algorithm helps select suitable dating profiles and then makes targeted contact suggestions.

And the next moment, singles are sitting in front of their smartphones and computers in despair, not knowing how to start the conversation. Other platforms offer prefabricated messages generated using AI. However, these are just a handful of conversation openers without personality or individuality.

Can ChatGPT help with the initial flirt?

No more headaches, because ChatGPT turns keywords into poetic masterpieces and finds words you would never think of.

And indeed, the AI has an extensive vocabulary, as it’s fed by a rich trove of data. During development, the AI was trained with social media posts, books, news, forums and other sources. As a result, it claims to be programmed to make truthful statements and avoid false ones.

To generate a text, ChatGPT only needs some input that roughly outlines the topic. Using the available data, the AI promptly creates a text that processes the given information. This means that in the future, users of this software will never be at a loss for words with potential partners. All they need to do is have a rough idea and let the artificial intelligence take care of the rest.

Whether you use it for your dating profile, for initial contact or complete conversations – with ChatGPT, boring communications might be a thing of the past.

Among other things, a video of a Tinder user is circulating on the Internet. The video shows the chat with a 5’11” woman, including a poem written by ChatGPT using AI.

But what can artificial intelligence really do and what ideas for openings and Tinder profiles can it provide users? To answer this question, we fed it some information ourselves.

Examples of opening lines after making a match

There’s that moment in online dating that triggers both feelings of joy and panic attacks for many singles. Making a match means that two members have given each other a like and expressed interest. And yes, the first message can actually make the difference between success and failure – it’s a big deal, not feared for nothing. The ice-breaker should be funny, charming and best of all related to their profile. Does ChatGPT manage to make messages that jump that hurdle of making contact?

In our example, the woman for whom we’re writing an opening line lists the gym, bars and beer as interests in her profile. Let's see what openers this generated:

"Hey, I see we both love the gym and bars. What's your favorite workout and what kind of beer do you like?"

How useful is this? Granted, asking a question in the first message is a tactic many don’t come up with on their own. However, we didn't find this opener particularly imaginative. Fortunately, there were other messages suggested to us right away.

"Hi, I see we both like the gym and beer. I'm looking for a new bar to enjoy my favorite brew. What do you recommend in your area?"

Again, there's a nice touch here, but this generated message isn't the bomb, either. If you put a little effort into it yourself, you could manage openings of the same quality.

And because many singles also look for hook-ups on Tinder, we wanted to test whether we might get better opening lines served up here. Our target person was the same, just with the added information that the message should contain a subtle erotic undertone.

And here are the results:

"Hey, I see we both love the gym and bars. Ever think about your preferred bedroom workout?"

Okay, so ChatGPT leaves no stone unturned and at least connects the interests with eroticism. But to be honest, that message still wasn't subtle enough for us. I wondered if one of the other suggestions would appeal more?

"Hi, I see we have common interests - gym, bars and beer. I've heard that beer increases desire. Would you like to maybe have a beer with me sometime and test the theory?"

What quickly becomes apparent is that the generated texts follow a pattern. “I see” and “we like” occur in almost every message. Of course, our potential partner doesn't know that, in the moment, and is just happy someone’s referring to their profile in the initial contact.

Examples of a Tinder bio made by a text generator

Many singles find their creative limits tested when it comes to profile design and often fail in online dating because of boring writing. If you don't immediately stand out with your profile, you've already pretty much lost – and there's more to it than just uploading a few pretty pictures and checking some boxes. The profile bio should provide information about who is behind the account. It should not sound boring, but also not too highbrow.

Let's see what ChatGPT has come up with for bio suggestions to enhance our Tinder profile.

Our input:

"Please write a few lines for my Tinder profile. What exactly could I put in it? I like to travel, go out, have lots of friends, but I'm still missing the right woman. I am reliable, honest and looking for something steady. It would be an advantage if you could also bring in some humor."

Basically enough points to create a proper biography for our profile. And here's the first result from our command:

"I am an adventurer with a passion for travel and new experiences. I love to have my friends and family around me, but I’m missing someone special by my side. I am reliable, honest and looking for something solid. Humor is also very important to me, so if you like to laugh too, then we're already on the same page."

Okay, that's already better than what you read in many profiles. But for our taste, the whole thing sounds a bit too much like a boring list. Maybe one of the other results has a little more personality?

"I am always looking for new adventures and love to explore the world. However, at home I also enjoy being with friends and family. I am a reliable and honest guy and looking for something steady. If you also have a passion for traveling and living life to the fullest, let's get to know each other."

We liked this answer better. It would at least be good as a source of inspiration.

Lastly, in our ChatGPT test, we wanted to know what the output looks like when we use the example of a woman with a Tinder profile who’s only looking for sex. Here, the message should again be subtly packaged and the focus should be on the fact that no strings are attached.

What happened next left us a bit stunned. We were first notified that it was important to clearly communicate one's preferences and interests. Furthermore, we were informed that the AI does not tolerate exclusively sexual messages and that they will even be reported. Fortunately, we still got our desired responses immediately.

"I love to have fun and enjoy life to the fullest. I am open to new experiences and looking for someone who shares my passion for fun. I'm not looking for anything long-term, I just want to enjoy and have a good time. If you're looking for the same thing, let's chat."

In principle, you could use that, since the sexual intentions were nicely packaged and communicated. But we don't want to deprive you of one of the alternatives....

"I am someone who enjoys life and is always looking for new experiences. I am open to new acquaintances and looking for someone who shares my passion for life. I'm not looking for anything long-term, I just want to enjoy myself and have a good time. If you're looking for the same thing, let's chat."

Okay, so the answers sound pretty similar and differ only minimally from each other.

Will ChatGPT revolutionize online dating?

We weren't quite convinced by the results ChatGPT gave us. In our eyes, the answers had no personality at all and sounded like boring strings of regurgitated information. Repetitive formulations of three sentences does not show creativity.

On the other hand, in the future, many singles will probably rely on AI to write their profiles or come up with something basic in a chat. Could this mean that online dating will be 70 percent technical and only 30 percent personal in the future? How genuine are dating profiles as a result, and isn't it ultimately a kind of joke to use a machine’s words to seek romance?

Small thought experiment:

You create your profile with ChatGPT and have a bio written. Based on this bio you are contacted by someone and a chat takes place. Again you use the AI to write nice, eloquent messages. Your potential partner is impressed by your creativity and ingenuity and the first date is arranged. IRL, however, you are taciturn, unimaginative and can't eve bring yourself to pay them a basic compliment.

What are the chances you'll be seen as the romantic poet you never were in the first place?

It's hard to imagine what will happen when everyone starts using artificial intelligence for online dating. It seems to be only a matter of time, even though most people say that dating is all about honesty for them.

Conclusion – Will ChatGPT improve online dating?

After looking into the innovative AI and testing it ourselves, we don't think it will be a gamechanger for online dating. After all, the bottom line is that it’s cheating, and that in particular is supposedly an absolute no-go when it comes to dating. Granted, the generated texts are not recognizable as artificially created works. But what if it turns out on the first date that the person has resorted to this unfair means to make themselves look better?

The fact is that online dating is about personality and ChatGPT is far from being able to capture that and include it in its messages. The AI is certainly useful as a gimmick and limited source of inspiration, but, in the end, people should still write themselves.