Singles on dating apps are increasingly using AI chatbots to write their messages to potential partners, a trend known as "chatfishing" [1, 2].
This shift alters the fundamental nature of digital courtship by replacing human interaction with machine-generated scripts. As users outsource the emotional labor of dating, the authenticity of initial connections is called into question.
Users of platforms including Match, Hinge, and Bumble are utilizing large-language-model AIs such as ChatGPT and Claude [1, 2]. These tools are used to craft polished messages and eliminate the awkwardness often associated with starting a conversation [1, 2]. By delegating the conversational work to chatbots, users attempt to save time and present a more curated version of themselves [1, 2].
The phenomenon has become a widespread issue across major U.S. dating platforms [1, 2]. Reports from late June indicate that AI is actively reshaping the search for love by introducing a layer of automation between two people [3].
Dating platforms said that they cannot currently block the use of these external AI tools [1]. Because the text is generated in a separate app and then pasted into the dating interface, the platforms lack a technical mechanism to distinguish between a human-written message and one produced by an AI [1, 2].
This practice creates a discrepancy between a user's digital persona and their real-world conversational skills. When these matches eventually meet in person, the lack of alignment between the AI-enhanced chat and the actual individual may lead to disappointment or a sense of deception [1, 2].
“Users are outsourcing their dating-app conversations to large-language-model AIs.”
The rise of chatfishing suggests a growing reliance on generative AI to navigate complex social dynamics. As the barrier to producing 'perfect' social responses drops, the value of organic conversation may decrease, potentially leading dating platforms to implement new verification methods to prove human authorship in real-time.
