Finding love on Tinder can be challenging, especially without some assistance. After his previous relationship ended in 2021, Aleksandr Zhadan turned to the app to find a girlfriend in Moscow. However, hours of swiping, messaging, and dates proved futile. So, he devised a unique solution: programming OpenAI’s GPT-2 to act as his dating assistant.
“I understand the difficulties of dating apps,” Zhadan explained. Learning about ChatGPT, he saw an opportunity to improve his chances.
The program mimicked his personality, understood his interests, and even managed his schedule through Google Calendar. Zhadan trained it to engage with potential matches based on his preferences and filter out undesired profiles. Though the early version had its quirks, Zhadan persisted, updating it as OpenAI released newer iterations like GPT-3, 3.5, and 4.
Zhadan’s assistant eventually narrowed down thousands of options to one: Karina Vyalshakaeva. They matched in December 2022, and Vyalshakaeva interacted with ChatGPT initially. After several in-person dates, Zhadan halted the program’s interactions with other women as their relationship deepened. They moved in together in 2023, with ChatGPT now serving as Zhadan’s dating advisor.
“At some point, the project suggested I propose to Karina,” Zhadan recalled, surprised by the idea initially.
Vyalshakaeva learned about the project later but understood its role in their early conversations. “He personalized prompts, which was helpful,” she noted. While Zhadan isn’t offering the program to others due to costs, Vyalshakaeva believes it could benefit those with genuine intentions. As AI dating assistants gain popularity, experts like Damona Hoffman see potential in streamlining the dating process.
Despite this, Tinder faces challenges with AI chatbots. While not explicitly banned, the app was deactivated in Russia after Zhadan’s conversations ceased.
Using ChatGPT to find love may seem unconventional, but for Zhadan and Vyalshakaeva, it led to a genuine connection. They plan to involve it in their wedding plans.
