AI will be used by Bumble to create profiles and facilitate conversations between users

In order to remain competitive, Bumble is increasing its investment in artificial intelligence and launching new services, especially as dating habits among younger generations change. More details about the platform’s impending AI improvements were revealed by Bumble CEO Lidiane Jones at Goldman Sachs’ annual technology conference. Among the highlights are a photo selection tool and features aimed at improving conversations and easing profile creation.

These updates, first hinted at during Bumble’s recent earnings call, are part of a broader strategy to leverage AI across all stages of the dating process. According to Jones, the AI-assisted photo picker will streamline the profile creation process, while conversation support tools are designed to boost user confidence. “We envision AI enhancing each step of the dating journey, from profile creation and discovery to engagement and matching,” she said.

Set to launch this winter, Bumble’s AI-powered photo picker will compete directly with Tinder, which introduced a similar feature earlier this year. Tinder currently leads with 9.6 million paying users, compared to Bumble’s 2.8 million as of Q2 2024. Jones hinted that Bumble is also working on additional AI tools to simplify profile creation, though specific details remain under wraps. The goal, she emphasized, is to reduce user anxiety around creating profiles while maintaining a high bar for quality.

Beyond just photos, profiles require engaging bios and prompts to attract matches. Although Bumble hasn’t yet revealed how AI will assist in crafting bios, it may draw inspiration from Tinder’s roadmap, where generative AI is being considered for this task. Additionally, Bumble could expand its AI-driven icebreaker feature, previously introduced for its friendship platform, Bumble for Friends, to the main dating app. This tool helps users generate conversation starters based on another user’s profile, encouraging more creative and engaging interactions.

Jones also emphasized the importance of fostering healthy conversations between users, noting that Bumble aims to offer more support in this area. The company has a history of using AI to enhance safety, with tools like the “Deception Detector” to flag fake profiles and the “Private Detector” to blur explicit images. More recently, Bumble added the ability for users to report AI-generated photos and videos.

While Bumble continues to focus on improving the free user experience, Jones confirmed there are no immediate plans to introduce new paid features. The company is instead refining existing options, such as expanding interest filters, enhancing the chat timer, and optimizing its matching algorithm. Additionally, Bumble is preparing for the relaunch of Geneva, a community platform it acquired, later this fall.