Creepy catfish or useful co-pilot: Can AI help with dating app success?

 ChatGPT has more than 100 million monthly active users - and some are now ready to call it their digital wingman. But it's not all harmless fun, with experts warning we could be entering a new era of AI-driven catfishing.An eye-catching profile picture, music tastes that match your own and no opinion on whether pineapple should go on pizza.

As far as dating app profiles go, it doesn't get much better than that. You swipe right or send a like, and put your phone away, hoping the interest might be mutual.Lo and behold, barely an hour's passed and you've matched. The excitement is only equalled by the overwhelming fear of what comes next: starting a conversation.

The need to come up with flirty, funny chat can feel like a constant pressure. "I found myself overthinking what the opening line should be," says Neo Cheng, a health care worker and vlogger. "The more you think, the more you go into this downward spiral."

Having seen it handle politicians' speeches, school homework and even some journalism, the 33-year-old Canadian decided to see if ChatGPT could be his digital wingman.

Back in February, Sky News asked the chatbot for tips ahead of Valentine's Day. But the cheesy chat-up lines ("If you were a vegetable, you'd be a cutecumber.") and creepy photo comments ("Your smile is so warm and inviting!") got a thumbs down from our dating expert.

But things have changed since then, with AI developing fast and ChatGPT enjoying a substantial upgrade.The experiment

Advertisement

Neo got ChatGPT to write a 100-word Tinder bio, based on some information about him.

"An introvert with a kind heart," it wrote, who "loves trying new foods" and is "looking for someone to share laughs and adventures with". It carried on about how much Neo loved everything from summer to helping others. The tone was more soppy romance novel than snappy dating profile.

Asked for something more concise, it went with: "Health care pro, introverted Aquarius and amateur YouTuber. Summer-loving meat-eater with a weird sense of humour. Enjoys Radiohead, Coldplay, and Justin Bieber. Seeking a partner in crime for laughs and adventures."Then on to the photos. The AI suggested using a "clear, well-lit headshot", an action shot, and a candid photo to go last. Neo went to his Instagram page to find photos that matched its ideas.

Once the profile was complete, each match received a response written by ChatGPT based on prompts Neo gave it about each person's profile.

Talking to matches

Anyone who's used chatbots will know they can often sound a bit formal and use flowery language.

Politeness can go a long way, though, and AI delivers that in spades.

"I can only imagine how tiring it can be to learn so much new information, but at least you're making progress!" was ChatGPT's response when one of Neo's matches revealed they'd started a new job.

The chatbot is also a stickler for correct grammar, punctuation, and capital letters - some way from how most people write online. It may give off a good impression, says Neo, but it sounds a little inauthentic.

Its chat-up lines remained cheesy: "Excuse me, but I think you dropped something. My jaw."

Told the match had responded with a "lol", ChatGPT proposed: "Glad to see I can still make someone laugh! Want to grab a drink and see if we can keep the laughter going?"Standing out from the crowd

ChatGPT may have been keen, but Neo's experiment was just that: an experiment.

The "what I'm looking for" section of his profile was set to "just new friends" and matches were told about the true nature of his replies before the conversation led to a potential meet-up.