AI as wingman: half of surveyed Indian singles run dating messages through AI

Artificial intelligence appears to be an everyday part of dating in India. The Indian dating app Aisle, owned by Info Edge, surveyed 8,240 urban singles and presented the results in early October in its report “How India Is Using Technology to Navigate Love”. Half of the respondents are Gen Z and 43 percent millennials; almost three quarters live in the big metros. According to the report, 51.2 percent run messages through AI before sending them, and 46 percent have used AI to write or improve their profile or prompt answers. Only 22.6 percent, however, think it is acceptable for AI to write the first message.

Many are stricter with others than with themselves: 24.3 percent use AI but would be bothered if a match did the same. 40.2 percent would feel deceived and likely unmatch if a profile photo turned out to be AI-enhanced or AI-generated. Among women, 51.9 percent ignore opening messages that sound AI-written, while 53.1 percent of women talk through feelings and relationship worries with AI. Overall, 64.2 percent trust their gut over AI when looking for a partner. Arouba Kabir, a psychologist working with Aisle, sums it up: “Men are asking AI, 'How do I say this?' Women are asking, 'Can I trust this?'”

The figures should be read with caution: the survey was conducted by the company itself; the reports give no fieldwork period, sampling method or weighting, and respondents are mostly young city dwellers – not representative of India as a whole. Aisle head Chandni Gaglani sees AI as another adviser alongside family and friends: “AI can open the door. Love still has to walk through it.”