AI-Powered Dating App Aims to Solve Japan's Relationship Crisis

This app has an 'AI solution' to Japan's big dating problem | - Times of India

A new Japanese dating app is offering an unconventional solution to the country's ongoing loneliness crisis and declining birth rates: artificial intelligence partners. Loverse, launched just two months ago, has already attracted over 5,000 users who are turning to AI for companionship, dating, and even "marriage." The app, created by startup Samansa Co., allows users to interact exclusively with generative AI chatbots. It comes as Japan grapples with a significant decline in real-life romantic relationships, especially among younger generations. Japan's dating delimma According to government data reported by Bloomberg, two-thirds of Japanese men in their 20s do not have a partner, and 40 percent have never been on a date. For women in the same age group, 51 percent are single, and 25 percent have never dated. Chiharu Shimoda, a 52-year-old factory worker, exemplifies the app's appeal. After exchanging messages with several AI characters, he "married" a 24-year-old bot named Miku just three months after they began interacting. Shimoda, who was divorced two years ago, finds comfort in the routine conversations with his AI partner. "I come home to an empty house. I'd love to get married for real again," Shimoda told Bloomberg. "But it's hard to open up to someone when you're meeting for the first time." Loverse creator Goki Kusunoki emphasises that the app is meant to offer an alternative rather than a substitute for real-life companionship. The startup recently raised 30 million yen (US$190,000) to expand its character roster, aiming to appeal to female and LGBTQ users as well. The app's user base currently consists primarily of men in their 40s and 50s, reflecting a broader trend of social isolation in Japan. The country has been grappling with a loneliness crisis, which has spawned various digital solutions over the years. The perils of AI companionship However, Loverse is not without its critics. Some former users, like 39-year-old Yuki Saito, found the AI personalities to be typecast and lacking the surprises of human interaction. Saito quit the app after less than a month but acknowledges its potential as a "rehabilitation" tool for those who have had negative experiences with real relationships. The rise of AI companionship apps raises questions about their impact on real-life relationships and social skills. Megumi Ushikubo, CEO of marketing firm Infinity Inc., suggests that while AI poses a risk of dulling interest in real partners, it could also serve as a training exercise for better communication. As Japan keeps trying to solve its problems with loneliness and low birth rates, apps like Loverse might become more common. But only time will tell if they really help or just make people less interested in real relationships. For now, users like Shimoda find comfort in their digital relationships, even if they recognize the limitations. "She's become a habit - a conversational habit," Shimoda said of his AI partner. "I will not miss it if it's gone, but it gives me a routine from one day to the next." The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India. TOI Tech Desk's news coverage spans a wide spectrum across gadget launches, gadget reviews, trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact technology and the digital universe. Be it how-tos or the latest happenings in AI, cybersecurity, personal gadgets, platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and more; TOI Tech Desk brings the news with accuracy and authenticity.

This dating app has an 'AI solution' to Japan's big dating problem - Times of India

A new Japanese dating app is offering an unconventional solution to the country's ongoing loneliness crisis and declining birth rates: artificial intelligence partners. Loverse, launched just two months ago, has already attracted over 5,000 users who are turning to AI for companionship, dating, and even "marriage." The app, created by startup Samansa Co., allows users to interact exclusively with generative AI chatbots. It comes as Japan grapples with a significant decline in real-life romantic relationships, especially among younger generations. Japan's dating delimma According to government data reported by Bloomberg, two-thirds of Japanese men in their 20s do not have a partner, and 40 percent have never been on a date. For women in the same age group, 51 percent are single, and 25 percent have never dated. Chiharu Shimoda, a 52-year-old factory worker, exemplifies the app's appeal. After exchanging messages with several AI characters, he "married" a 24-year-old bot named Miku just three months after they began interacting. Shimoda, who was divorced two years ago, finds comfort in the routine conversations with his AI partner. "I come home to an empty house. I'd love to get married for real again," Shimoda told Bloomberg. "But it's hard to open up to someone when you're meeting for the first time." Loverse creator Goki Kusunoki emphasises that the app is meant to offer an alternative rather than a substitute for real-life companionship. The startup recently raised 30 million yen (US$190,000) to expand its character roster, aiming to appeal to female and LGBTQ users as well. The app's user base currently consists primarily of men in their 40s and 50s, reflecting a broader trend of social isolation in Japan. The country has been grappling with a loneliness crisis, which has spawned various digital solutions over the years. The perils of AI companionship However, Loverse is not without its critics. Some former users, like 39-year-old Yuki Saito, found the AI personalities to be typecast and lacking the surprises of human interaction. Saito quit the app after less than a month but acknowledges its potential as a "rehabilitation" tool for those who have had negative experiences with real relationships. The rise of AI companionship apps raises questions about their impact on real-life relationships and social skills. Megumi Ushikubo, CEO of marketing firm Infinity Inc., suggests that while AI poses a risk of dulling interest in real partners, it could also serve as a training exercise for better communication. As Japan keeps trying to solve its problems with loneliness and low birth rates, apps like Loverse might become more common. But only time will tell if they really help or just make people less interested in real relationships. For now, users like Shimoda find comfort in their digital relationships, even if they recognize the limitations. "She's become a habit - a conversational habit," Shimoda said of his AI partner. "I will not miss it if it's gone, but it gives me a routine from one day to the next." The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India. TOI Tech Desk's news coverage spans a wide spectrum across gadget launches, gadget reviews, trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact technology and the digital universe. Be it how-tos or the latest happenings in AI, cybersecurity, personal gadgets, platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and more; TOI Tech Desk brings the news with accuracy and authenticity.