Exclusive: SLC leads nation for AI romance
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Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
1 in 3 SLC singles in a new Match survey have used AI in their quest for love, per data shared exclusively with Axios.
The big picture: Salt Lake tied with Denver for the largest share of respondents who turned to a bot in their dating life — either for direct companionship or help using a dating app.
- That's according to the nationwide "Singles in America" study, which surveyed over 5,000 people ages 18 to 98 this year.
The latest: This is the first year that the dating platform surveyed singles nationwide about using AI for companionship, Michael Kaye, communications director at Match Group, tells Axios.
- That's because of a surge in AI use in dating (333%) from last year, he adds.
By the numbers: 33% of single SLC respondents had "interacted with an AI companion," which Match defines as someone who's chatting with a bot for romantic or emotional intimacy or using AI to help them craft their dating profile or send messages.
Between the lines: Although the data doesn't distinguish between deliberately bonding with AI versus seeking its writing help — both are avenues for the artificial to touch the heart.
- Other users may not know they're crushing on someone for wit, earnestness or vulnerability generated by a machine.
The other side: Dating has pitted first impressions against brutal reality since the beginning of time.
What we're watching: Whether humans can live up to the expectations set by the bots that helped them get a foot in the door.
- And for those who find emotional satisfaction from a bot itself — whether the rise in AI companion apps leads to a jump in acceptance, like it did with online dating.