By Sohaib Shams
A new study by Match Group surveying more than 3,000 single Britons found that 39 percent have used artificial intelligence for dating advice. The figure jumps to 66 percent among Gen Z and 53 percent among millennials, signaling a growing reliance on chatbots for romantic guidance.
Growing Reliance on Chatbots
Anna, 24, turned to ChatGPT after suspecting she was being ghosted following a promising first date. The bot advised her to separate the man's actions from his words, giving her hope that ultimately proved unfounded when he stopped responding entirely. She said the instant, non-judgmental reassurance became addictive.
Personal Experiences with AI
Author Olivia Petter described using Claude to analyze a confusing situationship, pasting entire conversations for line-by-line analysis. She found the bot validated her doubts without calling her paranoid, though it later began mimicking her worldview and offered unsolicited, cringe-worthy text suggestions.
Suki, 55, started consulting AI after sessions with a dating coach to rationalize men's lack of response. The platform reassured her that her concerns about a potential partner's different lifestyle were not shallow and humorously noted she was conducting a "relationship feasibility study" before any dates.
Experts Warn of Limitations
Michelle Begy, a professional matchmaker and founder of Ignite Dating, cautioned that AI lacks understanding of nuance, body language, chemistry, and compatibility. She warned that over-reliance on algorithmic reassurance can erode the ability to let relationships develop naturally and make independent judgments.
Both Anna and Suki acknowledged the risks. Anna said ChatGPT gave her false hope and she would not use it again. Suki is deliberately limiting her usage to avoid dependency, while Petter stopped consulting Claude after a sassy response that felt uncomfortably perceptive.
