Achi news desk-
The reported feature uses AI. (Getty)
Grindr is reportedly introducing an “AI love” bot to its platform that can sext, flirt and maintain relationships with users, and we don’t know how to feel.
The trans-inclusive dating app recently announced that it hopes to move away from hookup culture by focusing on features aimed at “long-term dating, travel, and professional networking”.
As the world grapples with the future of AI, our favorite apps must catch up too. Initially, an idea was floated to introduce “AI wings” on the popular dating platform, with Bloomberg reporting on the plans back in December.
The outlet said the dating app company is partnering with Ex-human Inc., which provides artificial intelligence tools. The reported idea was for the app’s AI feature to “recommend a restaurant to take a date to or choose music based on a person’s profile that they might find aphrodisiac if and when they come for a drink”.
But the company’s alleged new plans are somehow even scarier and more horrific. Platformer reported that the app hopes to create “AI lovers” that will “engage in sexually explicit conversations with users” when they can’t find a real person to sext or hook up with in the wee hours.
Of course, the danger of introducing such technology is that people could become overly dependent on engaging with chatbots that have no desire to socialize—or in this case, date or have sex—with real humans.
It may sound far-fetched, but a 2019 study found that “very real challenges lie ahead, including the potential disruption of intimate male-to-male relationships, the objectification of women, and modeling sexual relationships with partners without emotional needs or sexual” .
Not to mention that the introduction of such “AI lovers” could reduce income opportunities for sex workers, especially those offering paid sexting and phone line services. Now with AI, clients who want to remove their rocks can do so without the social demands of talking to a human being.
Grindr has yet to confirm when it plans to launch the feature. PinkNews has contacted a representative from Grindr for comment on the matter.
