Gen Z is dating more but still wary of AI on dating apps, survey finds

By Celeste Varga

More Gen Z dating-app users say they are actively dating than a year ago, but many remain uneasy about letting artificial intelligence do the talking for them, according to a new Bloomberg Intelligence survey.

The survey of 1,000 U.S. dating-app users, split evenly between men and women and conducted from Aug. 26 to Sept. 21, found that 34% of Gen Z respondents said they were single and dating, up from 23% a year earlier, Quartz reported, citing Bloomberg.

Wary of AI wingmen

Just over half of Gen Z users said they were comfortable having AI write their replies and keep conversations going, compared with 70% of millennials. Many respondents also said building a profile is not especially hard, which raises questions about demand for AI tools that pick photos and fill in profile prompts, according to the report.

“Dating apps may need to remain cautious in their use of AI, balancing tools that improve the user experience with the risk of turning away younger users who want more genuine connections,” Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Nicole D’Souza wrote, according to Quartz.

D’Souza also wrote that “changing priorities toward dating and relationships could expand the future addressable market for dating apps” as Gen Z ages. Willingness to pay for subscriptions has risen as the group has gotten older, though Gen Z remains more price-sensitive than millennials, the report said.

What it means for Match

The findings land the day before Match Group, the owner of Tinder and Hinge, reports third-quarter results on Monday, Nov. 2, after the market close, with a conference call at 5 p.m. ET, according to the company’s investor relations site.

In its second-quarter results, Match reported revenue of $853 million, down 1% from a year earlier. Paying users fell 6% to 13.3 million, while revenue per payer rose 6% to $21.13. Hinge revenue grew 22%, and the decline in Tinder’s daily active users narrowed to 4%.

Match has tried to attract younger users with in-person events and formats that let friends or groups date together, according to the report. Chief Financial Officer Steven Bailey has said the company aims to become “an AI-native company,” Quartz reported.