Stances on AI are entering the mate-selection criteria for some people in San Francisco, further changing how they chat, screen potential partners, and arrange meetings. Dating app profiles, offline events, gatherings, and personal ads in the area show that some Hinge users explicitly reject those who use AI, with these differing attitudes sometimes being treated almost like political positions.
Interviewees' considerations vary. Some are concerned about the social impact of cutting-edge AI companies and thus avoid interacting with professionals in the field; others believe that personality, communication style, and appearance are more important than one's stance on AI, and high-paying AI jobs themselves hold economic appeal. Relevant data indicates that over 20,000 new AI jobs have been added in the San Francisco Bay Area, but the overall tech talent pool has shrunk by 6% since 2022.
AI is also directly intervening in the dating process. One entrepreneur had a custom AI agent browse profiles on Hinge, mimic their speaking style to send messages, assess compatibility, and schedule weekend meetups, without the other party knowing that the initial interactions were handled by the agent. Other interviewees expressed concern about partners becoming overly reliant on chatbots for emotional support, though they were okay with using them to process intense feelings.
Some individuals in the AI safety sector even factor technical risks and expectations of the "singularity" into their decisions about having children and long-term life planning. Meanwhile, anti-tech sentiment is growing, and some busy tech professionals are turning to offline activities, hoping to reconnect with others through face-to-face interactions.