Happn: Should AI plan your Perfect Date?
Dating apps seem to be a way of life now, with myriad options covering just about every niche you can imagine. Happn is among that throng, and in a world-first, has just announced an AI-based enhancement that it believes will make the transition from chatting online to a successful in-person date easier.
‘Perfect Date’ is powered by artificial intelligence and large language models (LLMs), and, according to Happn, is set to make planning that first date simple. The feature will use tailored location suggestions based on both users’ habits, favourite places, passions and geolocation — presumably gleaned from users’ profiles — to provide a range of suggestions.
With some modern online daters
finding planning a first date so stressful that many postpone or even cancel entirely, Happn sees Perfect Date as a tool to relieve that pressure. Based on early research, Happn believes that users are interested in exploring how this built-in feature can help them find the perfect place for a first date with their “crush” — the person they have matched with.
Karima Ben Abdelmalek, CEO and President of Happn, is keen to emphasise that Perfect Match is designed to aid users, not take away choice or control: “AI shouldn’t be making the decisions for users. Instead, it should help them unlock a path to bring the conversation back toward real life situations. With Perfect Date, our goal is to help people reconnect, without trying to force them into a box with a one-size-fits-all solution. We’re making it easier, reducing the pressure, and helping provide experiences that reflect who our users really are.”
The Perfect Date system generates unique suggestions based on the conversation, personality cues, and users’ locations. The AI makes some suggestions, ranging from cultural activities to recommendations for food and bars, from which the prospective couple can make a joint selection.
The system has to be activated by users, giving them continual control, but being available as a helpful tool should users need inspiration. “The new Perfect Date feature aligns fully with Happn’s broader mission to help people connect locally, in real life by making it easier and more natural to plan dates”, continued Abdelmalek. “AI isn’t here to decide everything for users, but instead to help support them in creating real, personalised experiences after securing a ‘Crush’ on the app.”
Perfect Date will be available for all users in the UK soon and can be used by daters with or without a premium subscription.
