Hinge, a dating app owned by Match Group, launched an AI-powered feature called Convo Starters to help users initiate conversations after liking profiles. The tool addresses complaints about matches who fail to message, often relying on generic openers like “How are you?”
Daters on Hinge frequently experience frustration when potential matches like their profiles without starting a conversation. This situation creates an awkward silence and places the burden on one individual to break the ice. Many users resort to unoriginal messages or engage in dull small talk, such as inquiring about general well-being, rather than developing thoughtful interactions.
In response to these challenges, Hinge introduced Convo Starters, which uses artificial intelligence to deliver customized suggestions for opening messages. The feature seeks to motivate users and enhance their assurance in crafting first communications. Upon liking a profile, individuals now encounter three specific conversation tips positioned below each photograph and prompt on the page.
The artificial intelligence behind Convo Starters examines the details of a user’s profile to produce recommendations tied to particular images or prompts. For instance, if a profile includes a photo of someone engaged in a chess game, the system may propose initiating dialogue about board games to foster a more relevant exchange.
Hinge developed this capability based on direct input from its user base, which highlighted the demand for improved tools to spark discussions. According to the company’s internal studies, 72 percent of Hinge daters express greater interest in a match when the like includes an accompanying message. Further analysis from Hinge indicates that users who attach a comment to their likes achieve dates at twice the rate compared to those who do not.
Convo Starters represents the latest addition to Hinge’s artificial intelligence integrations, coming after the rollout of the Prompt Feedback tool. That earlier feature employs AI to review users’ prompts and provide personalized guidance, encouraging them to expand on their responses and incorporate compelling personal anecdotes from their experiences.
Despite these advancements, a segment of Hinge’s audience, particularly those in Generation Z, reports unease regarding the incorporation of artificial intelligence into online dating processes. A survey conducted by Bloomberg Intelligence revealed that members of Generation Z exhibit higher levels of discomfort with AI applications for activities like creating profile prompts and composing reply messages, in contrast to responses from older demographic groups.
Match Group, the parent entity of Hinge, has committed financial resources ranging from $20 million to $30 million specifically for the advancement of artificial intelligence projects across its platforms.
