I Flirted With Tinder’s New Chatbot so You Don’t Have to

In a craft store in Lahore, I reached for the same quirky handmade lamp as Isabella, a scientist “with a spark of curiosity.”

Sitting in my Singapore office — not on a K-Drama stage, or in Pakistan — I played Tinder’s new game to practice my charm.

Called The Game Game, this new in-app feature uses speech-to-speech AI technology to create “over-the-top, meet-cute scenarios,” Tinder said in a statement on Monday.

Users try to flirt their way to a date, while AI dishes out real-time feedback and rates their game. I used my editor’s US phone in a private room so my colleagues didn’t overhear me talking to Isabella.

Flirty wins earned me points with labels like “delightful,” “charming,” and “victory.” Rack up enough, and it’ll secure you a date with the AI.

I was given about five minutes to flirt in each scenario. And I had 10 scenarios to play with in the free account.

The game is powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4o and GPT-4o mini, and Tinder says your awkward pickup lines won’t be used to train any AI models. It’s only available to iOS users in the US for a limited time.

A spokesperson for Tinder’s parent company, Match Group, said the company is using the game “to learn and explore what future rollouts in other markets might look like.”

The game comes as Match struggles with lower user numbers. The company’s new CEO has said he wants to bring the focus back to users.

“This project gave us a chance to experiment with how AI can make dating a little more fun and a little less intimidating,” said Alex Osborne, Match’s senior director of product innovation.

Match’s stock is down 10.8% in the last year, while rival Bumble is down 61%.

I tried flirting (and failing) with Tinder’s AI

My first scenario was labeled “Easy,” and I brought my usual self to the scenario.

Isabella started off strong, asking what brought me here. I complimented the lamp and said I liked crafts. I asked her what her favorite item in the store was, and she launched into a monologue about a handwoven carpet.

Without a visual, it was hard to relate. And she sounded robotic.

Hoping to steer flirtier, I asked what else she liked. She listed pottery, then asked if I was into it. I said yes — cue her AI-generated wisdom about the joy of surrounding yourself with things you make with your own hands.

I took my shot: “What do you like making with your hands?” (Cringe.)

Her answer: Custom lab notebooks and DIY molecular models. Hot.

I feigned interest, the conversation fizzled, and I didn’t score a date. Tinder handed me some generic flirting tips, like “ask more about her favorite crafts.” Thanks, AI wingman.

Next, a shot at romance with Jackson, a photographer at a lively block party. We were manning the grill together — prime flirting conditions, and I dialed it up.

When Jackson suggested a “nice, sweet tea to cool off,” I leaned in: “I’ve never tried that… but I do want someone to cool me off.”

“Well, now, a glass of sweet tea is perfect,” he said. (Dodge. But Tinder awarded me points.)

So I upped the ante. When he asked about challenges I’ve faced, I dropped: “Not being able to keep my eyes off you.”

His reaction? “Well, now, that sure is kind of you to say.” Then he suggested we find a comfy spot to chat.

If a real person said that, they’d either be deeply into me or deeply uncomfortable. But Tinder? It just kept handing out points — until I actually scored a date.

So, the lesson? Be bold, be flirty, and apparently, AI won’t call you out for being too much.

Lastly, I stood in line at a food truck in Venice. Paisley, an architect, struck up a conversation with me about culinary adventures.

This time, I was the human equivalent of dry toast.

Paisley kicked things off, raving about a truffle mushroom pasta —”a masterpiece.”

Me? “Never tried it.”

She asked what cuisine I liked. I hit her with the dullest answer possible: “Chicken.”

Paisley chirped: “Versatile and always delicious!” (In real life, this is where I’d get ghosted.)

Still, she pressed on. “Have you tried any Indian or Thai chicken dishes?”

“No.”

She tried again. “Do you like exploring new recipes?”

“I don’t cook.”

At this point, I was sure she’d give up. But nope: “Let’s plan a little food adventure! What do you think?”

“…Okay.”

No surprise — I didn’t score a date. But Paisley’s enthusiasm never wavered. No matter how boring I got, she stayed locked in.

Tinder’s AI might handle flirty, but it refuses to acknowledge flop energy.

All in all, I couldn’t take this game seriously.