Bumble Plans to Use AI to Build More Meaningful Human Relationships

Bumble is leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to assist individuals in finding compatible matches and fostering deeper human connections. Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd said at the Bloomberg Technology Summit on May 9th that a Bumble AI assistant could more easily foster authentic human connections and “help create more healthy and equitable relationships.”

Talk of this future innovation comes in the face of a rise in dating app fatigue, with many young people, especially women, deciding to quit these apps altogether. “We’re leaning into things that people don’t like, the things that are stressing them out … How do we be the best place on the internet for women? How do we be the best place where we do not exhaust them or stress them out along the way?’’ Herd said, emphasizing that AI could be the solution.

She gives one example of a “personal AI dating concierge” aimed at addressing dating concerns and improving communication with potential matches. “You could share your insecurities [with the dating concierge],” she said. “[It] could help you train yourself into a better way of thinking about yourself. And it could give you productive tips for communicating with other people.”

Herd also suggested a scenario where the AI concierge would be able to screen matches before needing to talk to them.

“There is a world where your dating concierge could go and date for you with [an]other dating concierge … and then you don’t have to talk to 600 people,” Herd said during the summit interview.

She elaborated that the concierge could evaluate potential partners in an area and choose the best matches based on your interests. “It will scan all of San Francisco for you and say, ‘These are the three people you really ought to meet.’ That’s the power of AI when harnessed the right way.”

Herd acknowledged that this isn’t the first time Bumble has used AI and machine learning to provide “a safer, kinder digital platform, for more healthy and more equitable relationships.”

Similar to other dating apps like Hinge, which introduced the “Your Turn Limits” feature to limit unanswered messages, Bumble has introduced new features such as For You, a tab that lists potential matches based on your preferences.

Other measures put in place include a spam and fake profile detector called Deception Detector and Private Detector that shields users from inappropriate content.

According to Herd, Bumble will evolve beyond a dating platform in the coming years. She envisions the dating app transforming into a space where users can connect with anyone, whether they’re looking for a romantic relationship, a hiking friend, or a mahjong partner. “Dating will remain a component, but we aim to become a genuine human connection platform.”