Tinder, Bumble, Grindr Push for “AI Wingmen”

In response to a growing sense of “dating app fatigue,” especially among Gen Z users, a number of dating platforms have begun to develop AI-powered “wingmen”. These tools are designed to assist users in crafting better messages, building profiles, and navigating online dating comfortably.

Grindr’s Chief Product Officer, AJ Balance, likens their AI assistant Grindr Wingman to a helpful friend at a bar — offering virtual support in breaking the ice by generating custom-tailored conversation prompts. Bumble is working on a similar system, aiming for many of the same features.

Tinder, is also integrating AI to support users throughout their dating journey. The platform has begun testing an AI-driven profile-building tool that selects the best photos from a user’s library, making it easier to create an appealing profile. 

The broader industry shift towards AI comes as companies like Bumble or Match Group – which owns Tinder and Hinge – experience declining growth. In theory, AI tools could allow users to bypass the more mentally and emotionally draining parts of the dating experience, eliminating a large part of the fatigue that has caused these slumps.

However, some experts are skeptical about whether AI can truly work as a tool for forging real connections, and whether or not an AI-written dating profile or message can be considered authentic. So far, all of these tools are still a testing ground for what’s to come.