A.

I’ve been thinking about artificial intelligence a lot, mainly because of some survey results I’ve been sitting with. 

Match and the Kinsey Institute (my Disneyland) just released the results of a survey that showed a massive spike in the number of single people who use AI in dating. 

Many of us freak out and think, “Oh no! People are getting robot boyfriends and won’t able to relate to humans anymore.” But a lot of what AI is used for is practice, it seems. They ask AI to help them with a response to a dating profile question. They ask how some might interpret tone. They dabble in conversation.

As we know, AI is not always on the mark, but it’s a way to test a thought. It also comes up with some fairly good ideas for date activities.

I have no problem with the ethics of using AI for this, within reason. It’s great for people who might want to try a few one-liners after matching with someone online.

I suspect it also helps prepare you for in-person interaction. If you’re more confident in your responses in writing, it starts to cross over.

The other thing to know about in-person charm: most people are a mess at it. I suspect that those who seem smooth are actually spinning in circles on the inside. Please take a deep breath and know you’re not alone.

Or say what you feel. We hosted that “Materialists” movie screening the other night, and at some point before the event I felt socially weird and stood outside. A person with a ticket came up to me and said hello, and I think I said, “Sorry I’m standing outside; I am socially overwhelmed because I worked from home all day, and now I’m little weirdo.” They were like, “Same.”

So there you go. Most people are second-guessing themselves and thinking “same.”

Except for the AI. The AI is quite confident. 

– Meredith

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