Viral 'Hawk Tuah' Creator Launches AI-Powered Dating App 'Pookie Tool'

'Hawk Tuah' girl launches Pookie Tool, an AI-powered dating advice app, and it's fine?

Haliey Welch, the 22-year-old who went viral for her "Hawk Tuah" video, has managed to turn her brief moment of fame into a full-fledged career. In just a few months, Welch has rapidly risen to fame, amassing around 5 million followers across various social media platforms. After recently releasing her own podcast titled "Talk Tuah," she's now venturing into the tech world with a new AI-powered dating advice app called Pookie Tool. Launched on the App Store this week, Pookie Tool offers a range of features aimed at Gen Z singles, such as an AI chatbot to help with conversation starters and general dating advice, outfit recommendations for dates, tips to enhance your dating profile, and even a zodiac compatibility feature. The app is launching at a time when many young daters have complaints about the current online dating culture, which is plagued by ghosting, scams, and other challenges. Some users have even turned to AI tools like ChatGPT for dating advice, using prompts to generate entire conversations. Major dating platforms Bumble and Tinder have also introduced AI tools. While Welch is not the first content creator to launch an app, it's rare for someone to do so early in their career, which could signal creators are becoming anxious about the sustainability of their success. More established influencers, such as Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) and David Dobrik, have previously launched their own apps. TechCrunch spoke (or, talked tuah) with Welch and discussed her new app, which is named after a cute nickname she calls her boyfriend. "I [was on] Bill Maher's podcast, and it was actually one of his ideas he gave me," Welch said. "He kind of pushed me, in a way, saying I should be a relationship coach. And so we came up with the idea. ... This app is the easiest way for them to find their forever Pookie." To build the app, Welch partnered with Ben Ganz , founder of Ultimate AI Studio, an AI customer support automation platform. In theory, Welch's app seems like a fun and promising concept tailored for those navigating the world of dating and relationships. It resembles other AI-driven relationship coaching tools, generating responses to all sorts of relationship questions, whether you're seeking advice on communication, conflict resolution, or simply how to have an enjoyable date. One standout feature is its ability to suggest creative date ideas based on your location and whether it's your first date or your 10th time seeing the person. Additionally, the app offers outfit recommendations to help you dress appropriately for different dating scenarios, whether it's a casual coffee date or an elegant dinner. It can also analyze your dating app profiles and provide feedback, such as engaging prompts or recommendations for adding more photos that show off your personality. Pookie's "Flirt Meter" evaluates your text messages on a scale of 0 to 100 to determine their flirtatiousness. When it was announced that the Hawk Tuah girl would be offering dating advice through a new app, we expected the chatbot to embody her signature humor and bluntness. However, upon testing Pookie Tool's AI chatbot, it became apparent that the responses were generic and lacked the distinctive personality that we anticipated. As a result, it felt strikingly similar to ChatGPT and other existing AI tools. According to Ganz, however, they're working on training the model by using transcripts from the podcast. Two of the tools may be considered controversial, however: "Bald Predictor" and "Height Detector." Bald Predictor works by analyzing a photo of a person searching for potential patterns of hair loss. Height Detector uses proportions and surroundings to estimate height. Both of these AI tools appear to be a response to frustrations expressed by some women regarding men who misrepresent their height on dating profiles or disguise their hair loss in photos. Some women are already using ChatGPT to call out men for lying about their height. However, the tools might come across as mean-spirited and could perpetuate the stigma that short and bald men are inferior. Welch maintains that the tools are intended to be lighthearted. But she did mention that, as a 5'8" woman, her favorite tool is the height detector. And, as with any AI technology, the Height Detector isn't 100% accurate and only provides an estimated guess. Our testing yielded mixed results, but one ended up being just 2 inches off from the person's real height, taking several things into consideration, like the countertops next to the person and the ceiling height. When we tested the Bald Predictor, the AI couldn't determine the probability of baldness from some of the images. Welch and Ganz plan to introduce new features in the future by collaborating with podcast guests and other content creators, although they did not specify which features will be added. Notable figures such as Holly Madison and Whitney Cummings have appeared on Talk Tuah, which may attract more users to the app. Pookie Tool operates on a subscription model; it costs $7 per week or $50 per year. There's also a three-day free trial.

Hawk Tuah girl Haliey Welch launches Pookie Tools AI dating app

Haliey Welch, affectionately known as the "Hawk Tuah girl," has ventured into the tech world with the launch of her AI-powered dating advice app, Pookie Tools. Named after the nickname she has for her boyfriend, this app aims to provide Gen Z singles with a solution to the common frustrations of modern dating. Welch, a 22-year-old sensation who garnered approximately 5 million followers on social media, has previously hosted a successful podcast titled "Talk Tuah." With her latest endeavor, she plans to merge her online fame with technology by offering unique dating advice tools. Pookie Tools became available on the App Store this week and includes a variety of features tailored specifically for young daters looking for an edge in their romantic lives. Pookie Tools encompasses several features aimed at enhancing the dating experience. The app boasts an AI chatbot designed to assist users with conversation starters and general dating advice. Furthermore, it provides outfit recommendations suitable for different date scenarios, offers tips to enhance dating profiles, and even includes a zodiac compatibility feature. This app arrives at a time when online dating often faces criticism for issues like ghosting and the prevalence of scams. Many users have started turning to AI for dating advice, utilizing tools such as ChatGPT to generate entire conversations. Industry giants like Bumble and Tinder have also recognized this trend and are integrating AI features into their platforms. Welch shared insights about her project during an interview with TechCrunch, stating, "I [was on] Bill Maher's podcast, and it was actually one of his ideas he gave me. He kind of pushed me, in a way, saying I should be a relationship coach. And so we came up with the idea. ... This app is the easiest way for them to find their forever Pookie." To develop Pookie Tools, Welch formed a partnership with Ben Ganz, the founder of Ultimate AI Studio, known for its AI customer support automation solutions. While the concept of an AI-driven relationship coach sounds promising, early testing of the chatbot has revealed responses that may come off as generic, lacking Welch's signature humor and personality. The app aims to offer a fun and innovative approach to navigating the realm of dating and relationships. Key features include suggestions for creative date ideas based on the user's location and previous interactions, as well as outfit recommendations for various dating occasions. The app also analyzes dating profiles to provide feedback on engaging prompts or profile pictures that showcase personality. One interesting tool, the "Flirt Meter," assesses users' text messages and scores them on a scale of 0 to 100 for flirtation levels. Amidst its array of user-friendly features, Pookie Tools includes what some may find controversial: the "Bald Predictor" and "Height Detector." The Bald Predictor analyzes user-uploaded photos to detect patterns of hair loss, while the Height Detector estimates height based on proportions and surroundings. These tools address frustrations from users about misrepresentations often encountered on dating profiles. While Welch asserts that these playful tools are meant to be lighthearted -- mentioning her own stature as a 5'8" woman who appreciates the height detector -- concerns about their potential for insensitivity remain. Early tests revealed that the Height Detector displayed mixed accuracy results but proved fairly close; one example was just 2 inches off from the user's actual height. The Bald Predictor, however, struggled to make accurate assessments, indicating that while technology can assist, it still has limitations. Welch and Ganz envision adding further features in collaboration with podcast guests and other influencers, yet specifics on what these features will entail have not been disclosed. Given that notable figures like Holly Madison and Whitney Cummings have appeared on "Talk Tuah," their involvement may help expand the app's user base. Pookie Tools operates on a subscription model, pricing itself at $7 per week or $50 annually, with a three-day free trial available for potential users looking to test the waters before diving in. Haliey Welch's transition from viral content creator to tech entrepreneur highlights a shifting landscape where influencers are exploring new avenues in response to audience engagement and trends in the dating world. With Pookie Tools, she aims to blend humor and technology, offering a fresh approach to modern dating dilemmas.