Facebook taps AI to help those 'tired of swiping' to find a better match

Facebookis jumping on the bandwagon of AI matchmaking with the latest update to its Dating platform. The company will introduce a new AI chat assistant to help users find matches, start conversations and build their profile in an effort to address user fatigue.

The shift is not surprising, given a number of dating platforms that haveintroduced AI components in the past year. But the two new features seem to be focused on driving activity by under-30 users.

What is Facebook Dating?

Facebook Dating launched in the US in September 2019 and in October 2020 across Europe. The platform, Dating, was the social media giant’s bid to get in on the dating app boom of the early 2010s.

“Find love through what you like” defines the Dating platform. It is designed to suggest matches based on common interests, events and groups, leveraging user information and Instagram compatibility.

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How does Facebook Dating work?

The platform functions much like every other online dating app. Location services are used to suggest nearby matches, users build their profile and preferences with basic info (height, education level, age) and browse through picture-forward profiles.

Your Dating profile is suggested to others who have opted in to the platform, based on your preferences, interests and “other things you do on Facebook”. Facebook groups and events you have intended or expressed interest in are also used to curate your matches.

Dating must be accessed from your Facebook account, but your Dating profile is different from your Facebook profile. The platform will also not suggest current Facebook friends as matches and anyone outside of the Dating feature will not be able to see your Dating profile or activities. Dating chats are separated from your chats on Facebook Messenger.

Users also have the option to integrate their Instagram posts into their Dating profile and add Facebook and Instagram Stories to their Dating profile.

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How does Facebook Dating compare to other dating apps?

Like Tinder, Hinge, OKCupid and the myriad of other online dating platforms, the site allows users to create a profile and curate their preferences. Facebook Dating arrived quite late in the dating app boom, and has yet to garner the same usage as longer running applications.

The company has shared that Facebook Dating matches among adults ages 18 to 29 have increased 10% year-over-year, with hundreds of thousands of users in that age group creating Facebook Dating profiles each month. But those numbers pale in comparison to Tinder’s 50 million daily active users and Hinge’s 10 million daily active users.

But like Tinder and other Match Group companies, Facebook Dating is now integrating AI to help users navigate profile-building, enhance match quality and assist with conversations.

What does Dating’s new AI assistant do?

Dating assistant is a chat assistant within Facebook Dating. According to the company, the assistant allows users to “go beyond traditional traits like height or education” and create unique prompts to find matches. “Find me a Brooklyn girl in tech” is one example of the type of prompt users can now employ.

Users can also use the assistant to provide date ideas or help enhance their profile.

Will the AI feature be available in the UK?

The new dating assistant and Meet Cute feature - which connects you with a surprise match based on algorithm- will begin rolling out gradually in the US and Canada. There is no news yet when the digital assistant will become available for UK users.

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