AI is changing the world of dating, and the biggest apps are now betting on artificial intelligence to fix what users hate the most - endless swiping, ghosting, and disappointing matches. Instead of scrolling through hundreds of profiles, apps like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge and Grindr are testing AI matchmakers that pick a few high-quality matches every week, sometimes even helping users message, analyse dates, or improve profiles.

This shift comes at a desperate time. Paid subscriptions on Bumble dropped 9% in the last year, while Match Group (owner of Tinder & Hinge) lost 5% of its paying users. Their stock prices have crashed almost 80-90% since 2021. Users are tired of “the cycle of despair” - downloading apps, getting frustrated, deleting them, then coming back again.

Now, a new wave of AI-first startups like Known is charging users per successful match instead of a monthly plan. People talk to an AI chatbot, share their likes and red flags, and get one personalised match - just like a digital matchmaker.

But even when AI gets the match right, the problem stays the same: humans can still ghost.