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Match Launches AI Dating Coach ‘Lara’ on Google Assistant

Match has today brought Lara, its artificial intelligence (AI) dating coach, to Google smart home devices in the UK.

The move comes one year after the company introduced Lara on Facebook messenger.

The new service presents singles with a unique daily match, as well as tailored dating tips and venue suggestions.

The command “OK Google, talk to Lara from Match” will initiate a conversation with the AI, which improves its vocabulary with every interaction.

Match says Lara offers three new and unique propositions for users:

Daily Match

For Match members only, Lara will select a unique member profile based on a single’s Match search preferences (age, location and common interests). The profile details of the daily match can then be sent to a phone via SMS, allowing daters to seamlessly contact their potential date.

Date locations

Lara will offer all users suggestions for a perfect date location. She will ask what kind of date setting a single is looking for and use Google Map’s Geocoding API to make a recommendation. Providing the user has given their permission, Lara will offer to send the details via SMS with a link to a map. As the conversations progress, Lara will learn from the user’s dating experiences to suggest more relevant locations in the future, based on their feedback.

Dating advice and tips

For those with the first-date jitters, Lara also comes armed with a range of dating advice, all based on Match’s 23 years of experience. She can cover everything from top date turn-offs to overcoming nerves. For example, if a single is feeling a little shy about going on a date, Lara will respond with suggestions on how to combat those first-date nerves.

Xavier de Baillenx, Innovation Leader at Match says: “At Match, we constantly strive to provide our members with a smoother path on their journey to find the perfect partner.

We are always looking at the role technology can play in improving that experience, offering people new ways of meeting their potential dates that fits seamlessly into their busy daily life.

“With the rise of smart home devices, we recognised that we needed to extend our offering to encompass these, building upon the success of Lara on Facebook. Google Home was the ideal partner in our quest to deliver this latest innovation to our members.

“AI is a pioneering space that is constantly evolving, and we look forward to enhancing our services further in the future.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqCvHJaB1wE&feature=youtu.be

Scott Harvey

Scott is the Editor of Global Dating Insights. Raised in Dorset, he holds a BA from The University of Nottingham and an MSc from Lund University School of Economics and Management. Previously he has written about politics, economics and technology for various online publications.

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