Hinge’s new AI feature helps daters move beyond boring small talk

Many daters on Hinge get annoyed by matches who like their profile but never bother to start a conversation. It often leads to this awkward silence, which puts all the pressure on one person to make the first move. Instead of thinking of something interesting to say, some simply fall back on the same old lines or stick to boring talk, like asking, “How are you?”

To tackle this problem, Hinge has unveiled ‘Convo Starters’, an AI-powered feature that offers personalized tips for initiating conversations.

The feature aims to inspire daters and boost their confidence when sending first messages. When users like a profile, they will now see three customized tips under each photo and prompt. The AI ​​evaluates a user’s profile and generates recommendations based on the individual photos or clues. For example, if a potential match is pictured playing chess, Hinge might suggest starting the conversation about board games.

Convo Starters was developed in response to user feedback, Hinge says. The company’s research shows that 72% of Hinge daters are more likely to consider someone when a like is paired with a message. Data from Hinge shows that those who comment on their likes are twice as likely to arrange a date.

This new feature follows the launch of the AI-powered Prompt Feedback feature, which assesses user prompts and offers tailored advice to improve them by encouraging users to elaborate and share compelling details about their lives.

However, because Hinge is incorporating AI features into its app, many users, especially Gen Z, are uncomfortable with the thought of using AI in their online dating experiences. A Bloomberg Intelligence research found that Gen Z is more uncomfortable using AI for tasks such as creating profile prompts and responding to messages than older generations.

Hinge’s parent company, Match Group, is spending about $20 million to $30 million on AI efforts.