Hinge’s new AI feature helps daters move beyond boring small talk

Many daters on Hinge are annoyed by matches whose profile they absolutely like but never bother to start a conversation with. This often leads to that awkward silence, putting all the pressure on one person to make the first move. Instead of coming up with something interesting to say, some people resort to the same old lines or stick to boring small talk, like asking, “How are you?”

To address this issue, Hinge unveiled “Convo Starters,” an AI-powered feature that provides personalized tips for starting conversations.

This feature aims to inspire daters and boost their confidence when sending initial messages. When users like a profile, they will now see three personalized tips below each photo and prompt. AI evaluates the user’s profile and creates recommendations based on individual photos or prompts. For example, if a potential match is pictured playing chess, Hinge might suggest starting a conversation about board games.

Hinge says Convo Starters was developed in response to user feedback. The company’s research indicated that 72% of daters are more likely to think of someone when a like is accompanied by a message. Data from Hinge reveals that those who include a comment with their likes are twice as likely to arrange a date.

This new feature comes on the heels of the launch of the AI-based “Quick Feedback” feature, which evaluates user prompts and provides personalized advice aimed at improving them by prompting users to clarify and share engaging details about their lives.

However, as Hinge integrates AI features into its app, many users, especially Generation Z, are uncomfortable with the idea of ​​using AI in their online dating experiences. A Bloomberg Intelligence survey found that Generation Z is more uncomfortable about using AI for tasks like crafting profile prompts and responding to messages than older generations.

Match Group, Hinge’s parent company, is allocating about $20 million to $30 million to AI efforts.