Can AI Algorithms Predict Your Perfect Match on a Dating Site?

Between chatbots and AI-generated content, most people have come across artificial intelligence (AI).

Romantic Kiss in the Rain
Image by sabbirsd40 on Freepik

But did you know dating apps were ahead of the AI curve? The earliest applications of AI in dating focused on matchmaking and personalized recommendations. Today, it’s expanding into other areas like generative AI and chatbots.

All this time, there’s been one big question: can AI algorithms predict your perfect match? Today, we’ll answer everything you need to know about AI, dating sites, and perfect matches.

What Are AI Algorithms in Dating?

When you sign up for any app, you create a profile with data points. Your hobbies, star sign, preferences, among other things–all of these are data points that AI will analyze. AI algorithms analyze this data and predict compatibility with other users on the platform.

Algorithms learn from your patterns and behaviors, too. Behavioral data is factored and combined with your profile data to produce the most relevant results.

This blending of data is what helps AI continue to grow and evolve. That first match might be rocky, but by the 10th match, there’s a good chance that it’s a better match than the first.

Profile Vs Behavioral Data in Dating Apps

Profile data is what you explicitly mention about yourself, while behavioral data is what you do on the platform.

Profile data includes basic markers like your age, gender, and location. But, it’s also deeper things like your interests, preferences, and the kind of relationship you’re looking for. Whether it’s a true romance or to find local hookups, your bio is also part of the analysis.

Behavioral data is more nuanced. It includes everything you do on the app. It’s who you swipe on, how long you view profiles, and who you message. The full extent of what’s tracked often depends on the specific app.

How Do Dating Apps Determine Compatibility?

Love and romance are complex subjects. That’s why AI algorithms need to rely on both profile and behavioral data. These data points, then, paint a more realistic picture of compatibility. Here’s how it works in action.

Shared Interests

Let’s say you love dogs. If you add “dog lover” to your profile, you’ll be matched with other dog lovers right away. But even if you don’t mention it, consistently swiping on profiles with dogs will eventually signal that interest, even if it’s not explicitly mentioned on your profile.

User Intent

People use dating apps for different reasons, and AI takes that into account. Adding tags like “casual” helps match you with others looking to find local hookups. Even without tags, consistently swiping on similar profiles or logging in during peak hookup hours can signal your intent.

Conversation Quality

Thanks to large language models, AI can assess chat engagement and tone. It does this by combining explicit data–which is what you say–with behavioral data, such as when you say it and how often you engage. Using specific phrases like “DTF” or sending many photos can signal a more flirty and casual tone.

Can AI Algorithms Guarantee a Perfect Match?

Love between humans, we’re not sure AI will ever be able to truly grasp. AI algorithms can’t guarantee a perfect match, but they can be a helpful tool to speed up the matchmaking process.

Here’s what AI algorithms can and can’t do when it comes to finding the perfect match.

Dating app AI algorithms can:

Dating app AI algorithms can not:

Plus, you’ll never know your perfect match from just that first impression. You still need to do the work and make the effort to build trust and build that deeper connection.

Other Ways AI Is Being Used in Dating Apps

AI is evolving, and today, there are new ways to use AI inside dating apps. They don’t help you find the “perfect match” directly, but they do make the process more seamless. Here are some examples:

Will AI Find Your Match?

AI can’t find your perfect match, but it’s also evolving every day. Who’s to say it won’t get better in the next 5 to 10 years? Only time will tell, but it’s an interesting topic to think about.