No One Likes How AI Is Impacting Dating

If you’ve been feeling like AI has been trying to take over dating and love, you’re not imagining it. And if you hate that, you’re not alone. A new report from Match Group, aka the company that owns all your favorite dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, and OKCupid, found that young singles are not enthusiastic about chatbots trying to shape their love lives.

From April 2026 to May 2026, Match Group polled 1,000 singles ages 18 to 39 in the United States to assess their vibes on using AI in dating, and the responses were the least bit surprising.

For example, even though nearly 75% of these singles used AI in their day-to-day, mostly for practical things like summaries or solving problems, they don’t see the same need or purpose for the bots in their dating endeavors. Almost half of the singles—47% to be exact—see AI as a negative when used in a romantic context, according to the report.

The Gen Z single women ages 18 to 24 are especially not having it when it comes to an AI relationship gap. More than half of them (51%) would not date someone who regularly uses an AI companion app, it’s a red flag and a hard dealbreaker for them. Many millennials are in alignment with this, with roughly 40% of singles ages 18 to 39 saying the same thing.

Even when it comes to leaning on a chatbot for dating advice, young singles are still going old school: tapping their loved ones. Sixty percent said they ask for advice from their friends, and the same amount hit up their family members when they need help in the love department. Still, there were 20% of the singles polled who said they do turn to AI for help in that regard, though. “The hierarchy is clear: AI is a tool for tasks. People are for feelings,” read the report.

About 65% of the singles said they can see AI helping their dating journey when there’s a practical task of some sort that needs to happen, like planning a date or building a better dating app profile. “Singles are most receptive when AI is assistive. They are not asking for romance to be automated,” read the report. “They are asking for dating to be more seamless.” And aren’t we all?