Dating Apps Turn to AI as Cupid, but Skeptics Say Tech Can't Fix Romance

After years of declining user engagement and falling stock prices, Bumble is making a bold move: ditching the swipe. CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd announced a shift toward features that foster deeper connections, including an AI assistant named "Bee." While Bee's exact role is still vague, it will help users optimize profiles by suggesting better photos and bios, and chat with them about preferences to find matches with similar values. Critics argue that AI cannot replicate the messy, spontaneous chemistry of real human interaction. As Tatum Hunter writes, endless swiping has already soured a generation on dating apps; relying on AI to play cupid may only deepen the disconnect.