AI dating apps use interviews and no-swipe matching

Startups such as London’s Fate use agentic AI to interview users, offer a small set of curated matches and provide optional coaching; some users report more thoughtful interactions while a Match Group study found 62% of Europeans were skeptical about AI-guided conversation.

AI dating apps are experimenting with interview-led matching instead of endless swiping. Fate, a London startup that launched last May, uses an AI ‘onboarder’ to ask users about their hopes and struggles and then presents five potential matches. The app also offers an AI coach that can suggest questions or conversation prompts. Several other startups in the US, including Sitch and Keeper, are using AI features to narrow matches or manage detailed preferences. Key points: - Fate interviews users and presents five potential matches rather than offering endless swiping. - Fate’s AI coach can suggest questions and guide users through conversations; some users found this helpful and others called it "scary." - The founder says the service matches on "similarity and reciprocity of personality" using a language model rather than ranking desirability scores. - The article mentions a Match Group study of 5,000 Europeans that found 62% were skeptical about using AI to guide conversations. - Some users reported that limiting matches and requiring reasons for rejections made decisions feel more thoughtful and helped lead to dates. Summary: These apps aim to change the dynamics of online dating by using agentic AI to interview users, limit matches and offer conversational coaching, and some users report renewed excitement and second dates. Undetermined at this time.