Panda SecurityYes, Facebook does have a dating AI assistant that helps users be more efficient when searching for matches on the company’s online dating service, Facebook Dating. The new AI tool comes in the form of a chatbot, and it began rolling out to some Facebook Dating users in Canada and the USA last month. This innovative AI dating helper is designed to reduce users’ swipe fatigue, which, according to a recent Forbes Health Survey, is a real issue, as users admitted to spending approximately fifty minutes a day swiping through dating apps. The new chatbot is not the only new feature from the world’s biggest social media platform. Facebook has also introduced Meet Cute, a feature that aims to eliminate indecision in online dating by automatically matching users with a surprise match based on their personalized matching algorithm. Similar AI-powered features have already been introduced at other meeting apps.
Key takeaways
- Facebook Dating added a couple of new features to its arsenal of dating tools in an effort to expand its presence in the dating app market.
- The new chatbot can help users find matches without needing to swipe, but by just conversing with a chatbot. The other new feature, Meet Cute, offers surprise matches based on a matchmaking algorithm.
- Unlike tools at other dating apps, the new Facebook Dating match features are offered free of charge.
- Romance scams are rising. Fraudsters use AI tools to create fake profiles and gain victims´ trust with emotional manipulation tactics.
What is Facebook Dating?
Meta’s Facebook has billions of users, but despite its significant size, it is not known as the go-to place when individuals are looking for a new partner. The folks at Meta have been trying to change that over the last six years since Facebook Dating was first launched. Meta markets its dating services as a space within Facebook designed to facilitate meeting and initiating new conversations with like-minded people who share similar interests.
However, despite having hundreds of thousands of users, Facebook Dating has not taken off as well as other dating apps, whose active user numbers are in the millions. Meta is taking a step forward. Its new AI chatbot and Meet Cute aim to capture part of the dating crowd. Last month, the new features started rolling out in Canada and the USA.
Facebook’s new dating assistant and Meet Cute explained
The dating assistant is presented as a chatbot that guides love seekers through their dating journey. It offers better matches, and just by conversing with the bot, it can make suggestions. Meta is hoping to alleviate the swipe fatigue that has left dating app users frustrated.
A recent Forbes Health Survey disclosed that users spend approximately 50 minutes swiping per day. Instead of swiping, Meta wants users to request more unique traits from the dating assistant. For example, they can ask it to “find a handsome engineer from Los Angeles” or a “Kathrin Zeta Jones lookalike”. On the other hand, Meet Cute pairs users automatically based on algorithmic predictions of mutual interest. The feature is optional and delivers matches weekly, but it is not mandatory, and users can easily opt out. Neither feature is yet available worldwide, but both have started rolling out gradually to users in North America.
How does Facebook Dating compare to other dating apps?
While Facebook Dating garners the attention of hundreds of thousands of users, this represents only a tiny portion of the overall Facebook user base. The numbers are small compared to daily users of popular dating apps like Tinder and Bumble, with millions active.
Do other apps have similar AI features?
Yes, they do. Trendy dating apps such as Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble have introduced similar chatbots. While some of them are behind paywalls, AI is widely adopted by the most popular online dating platforms, including Bumble, Tinder, and Hinge.
Are romance scams on the rise?
Yes, romance scams continue rising, powered by AI chatbots that help fraudsters appear more plausible and trustworthy. The new tools make it hard to spot fake requests. AI attacks are especially effective against non-tech-savvy users. Criminals use AI to create fake profiles and images. It also helps them sound convincing and gain trust. Once the trust is established, criminals typically attempt to defraud their targets by imposing urgent requests and financial demands. The AI and crypto revolutions have made it easy for scammers to thrive.
Facebook Dating introduced new features last month. They´re rolling out slowly in North America and expanding globally next year. AI is certainly helping companies deliver better tools, but cybercriminals are also utilizing it. While it is tempting to take advantage of the new tools, social media users need to keep in mind that the latest improvements in AI have also made it possible for fraudsters to become more creative when targeting new victims and executing malicious campaigns. Having adequate cyber protection can help fight back against bad actors trying to scam you.
