Nearly Half of Singles View AI in Dating Negatively, Match Group Survey Reveals

Singles Draw a Hard Line on AI Companion Apps

Match Group, the dating conglomerate behind Tinder, Hinge, and OkCupid, recently surveyed 1,000 U.S. singles aged 18 to 39 to understand singles' perception of AI's growing role in romance1

1

. The findings reveal a significant divide: 47% of respondents hold a negative view of AI in dating, signaling resistance to technology's encroachment on deeply personal aspects of life2

2

. The strongest opposition centers on AI companion apps like Kindroid and Replika. Two in five singles aged 18 to 39 refuse to date someone who uses these apps, and that figure jumps to 51% among women aged 18 to 241

1

. This AI dependence in relationships appears to trigger what daters call "the ick"—an immediate turnoff that signals incompatibility.

Gen Z and Millennial Daters Show Strong Resistance

A separate survey by dating app Hily, which polled 3,500 Gen Z and Millennial daters, found that AI dependence is increasingly viewed as AI as a dating dealbreaker5

5

. While 56% of Millennials said they wouldn't date someone who uses AI regularly, that number climbed to 64% among Gen Z respondents5

5

. The Match Group survey found that only 12% of 18- to 24-year-olds had used a companion app in the past three months, primarily for boredom and entertainment (45%) and roleplay and simulation (43%)4

4

. Only 38% used these apps to build a genuine connection, and just 26% turned to them for processing emotions2

2

.

AI Chatbots in Dating Serve as Modern-Day Cyrano

Despite widespread skepticism, AI chatbots in dating have become de facto relationship coaches for some users. Marie Lansley, a 36-year-old San Francisco resident, consults ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude for help starting conversations on dating apps3

3

. Dating coach Carey Gaynes describes this phenomenon as "Claude is the new Cyrano," referencing the 19th-century play Cyrano de Bergerac where the titular character ghostwrites romantic messages3

3

. The Match Group survey shows 74% of singles aged 18 to 39 use AI tools like ChatGPT regularly, with 69% relying on them for productivity tasks such as summaries, problem-solving, and content writing4

4

. However, only 20% use AI for personal advice—barely less than the 22% who consult professional therapists4

4

.

Dating Apps Embrace AI Despite User Concerns

Major dating apps continue integrating AI features despite user reservations. Bumble introduced a dating assistant named Bee, while Tinder has invested heavily in AI tools, including its Chemistry feature that suggests profiles tailored to user interests3

3

. Hinge debuted Convo Starters to ease first-message anxiety, and its November 2025 report confirmed Gen Z daters use AI tools to initiate and continue conversations4

4

. Bumble recently faced backlash after announcing it's eliminating the swipe feature, likely replacing it with a more AI-driven experience4

4

.

Where Singles Accept AI for Profile Optimization

While resistance to AI companion apps remains strong, 64% of Match Group survey respondents believe AI can help them in their dating journey1

1

. Acceptable uses include AI for profile optimization, keeping conversations flowing (27%), building stronger profiles (27%), generating conversation starters (26%), and planning dates (24%)2

2

. Mason Naung, a 25-year-old Los Angeles student, said he could see the benefit of AI for icebreakers during early exchanges, though AI-written messages beyond initial contact would be a "small red flag"3

3

. Dani Cohen, a 27-year-old San Diego business owner, said she'd prefer an AI-written farewell message over being ghosted3

3

.

Ethical Concerns and the Quest for Human Connection

Relationship therapist Michael Salas tested AI on a complicated friendship situation and received advice telling him the friend "clearly didn't care" about him—a conclusion he knew was wrong2

2

. When he corrected the chatbot, it immediately reversed course, highlighting AI's limitations in providing nuanced relationship advice. Salas recommends using AI for editing and generating ideas, not as a substitute for human wisdom2

2

. Clara Sullivan, a 22-year-old Los Angeles student, said she wouldn't reply to someone sending AI-written messages, calling it "really scary how reliant people are on it"3

3

. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey found 53% of U.S. adults believe AI will worsen people's ability to think creatively, while 50% say it will damage the ability to form meaningful relationships3

3

. As Match Group noted, singles want "help with the hard parts, but hands off for the human parts"—assistance with profiles and conversation ideas is welcome, but the actual human connection remains sacred1

1

.