When you use dating apps, there’s a lot of pressure to make an impression in the mere moments you have before someone decides whether you’re worth the effort. 

So, as frustrating as it can be, we understand that there’s a fair bit of truth-bending involved in finding love online: 

Like pictures with really flattering angles or exaggerations of interests. 

All’s fair in love and/or exciting-but-sometimes-brief-and-often-regretted romance.

Butis it fair if someone’s using AI to make basic conversation? 

A growing number of daters report asking ChatGPT – or one of a flurry of new “AI dating assistant” startups – to craft questions and answers on dating apps. 

Was that witty repartee in your DMs generated by a bot? How much has dating been co-opted by digital wingmen, and what does it mean for the future of digital romance? 

Guest:

Henry Chandonett, reporter for Business Insider

Relevant Links:

Business Insider: The Rise of the AI Wingman

The Guardian: ‘I realised I’d been ChatGPT-ed into bed’: how ‘Chatfishing’ made finding love on dating apps even weirder

When you use dating apps, there&rsquo;s a lot of pressure to make an impression in the mere moments you have before someone decides whether you&rsquo;re worth the effort.&nbsp;
So, as frustrating as it can be, we understand that there&rsquo;s a fair bit of truth-bending involved in finding love online: Like pictures with really flattering angles or exaggerations of interests.&nbsp; All&rsquo;s fair in love and/or exciting-but-sometimes-brief-and-often-regretted romance.
But is it fair if someone&rsquo;s using AI to make basic conversation? A growing number of daters report asking ChatGPT &ndash; or one of a flurry of new &ldquo;AI dating assistant&rdquo; startups &ndash; to craft questions and answers on dating apps. Was that witty repartee in your DMs generated by a bot? How much has dating been co-opted by digital wingmen, and what does it mean for the future of digital romance?&nbsp;
Guest:
Henry Chandonett, reporter for Business Insider
Relevant Links:
Business Insider: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-wingman-dating-helper-tinder-hinge-pickup-lines-chatgpt-2025-12">The Rise of the AI Wingman</a>
The Guardian: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/oct/12/chatgpt-ed-into-bed-chatfishing-on-dating-apps">&lsquo;I realised I&rsquo;d been ChatGPT-ed into bed&rsquo;: how &lsquo;Chatfishing&rsquo; made finding love on dating apps even weirder</a>