Artificial intelligence is now teaching people how to connect — and helping some companies make more money along the way. For example, RIZZ.AI, a newcomer in the field of AI-powered dating assistance, has amassed 3.5 million downloads, the South China Morning Post reported. At $7 per week, it boasts 30% quarterly growth.
In the year Founded in 2020, the company offers a comprehensive approach to improving users' dating skills. (“Reese,” short for “charisma,” was last year's word of the year in the Oxford Dictionary.) The app offers users a variety of dating situations, such as asking out a coworker, getting out of the “friend zone,” or flirting with a dance partner at the disco.
You talk out loud like you would on a real human date. After a certain period of time, it evaluates your overall behavior and makes recommendations based on your tone, the flow of the communication and the progress towards your stated goal. The software then tells users what they did well and suggests ways to improve with a personalized coaching experience. The app is available in both English and Spanish.
I decided to give it a test drive and paid $1 for a day's service. I chose one of the scenarios to help RIZZ.AI navigate the tricky waters of escaping the “friendzone”. AIA is designed to strictly maintain platonic boundaries, creating a realistic and difficult conversation.
My strong Latino accent complicated the relationship, but I still managed to score 65 out of 100 points – not the best flirt, but not bad for a married guy who doesn't need a 10-year rez. Looks like I wasn't pushing hard enough.
The AI trainer suggested including more humor which was really helpful advice. However, the stress of being rejected by the AI, combined with the 20-second countdown timer, put me off.
Once users set up an interaction, they start their conversation with an AI-like love interest. The app's rapid-fire interactions force users to think and react quickly, mimicking real-world dating. Incomplete or hesitant responses will give you faster AI responses in less than a second for AI to respond. You have to speak fast, or your AI crush will let her know that she thinks you're an inconvenient tool.
For example, Jennifer (AI name) asked me how my day was. “Yeah, it was normal, the usual, erm (thinking about the random thing about the day),” she quickly retorted, “Well, you don't seem to be a word person…amazing.”
I was still impressed with the app. After a few interactions, RIZZ.AI's evaluation system appears to be dynamic and contextual rather than relying on predefined responses. I was advised to be more direct and take risks when I was too respectful – in subsequent interactions he would compliment my approach when I was more direct but tell me to lighten the mood with humor.
This adaptability sets it apart from some competitors. Being able to communicate and analyze the entire conversation gives you a level of superiority over just being immersed in text-based interactions.
For text-based training, the best we can find is the GPT Chatbot Simulator Day Trainer. Unlike RIZZ, which throws you in the water and tells you how you did, this GPT-based simulator tells you what to do to improve your game. Instead of faking a conversation, you can ask for dating advice. But its strength lies in its ability to analyze the whole situation and provide deep insights.
So in addition to speaking, users can see their behavior, the other person's feelings, what's going on, etc. With all this information, the trainer can also provide useful customized advice to the user.
Date simulators are especially popular in China. In addition to RIZZ, apps like Hong Hong Simulator are gaining attention, recognizing the dating problems faced by young people due to limited social circles, indoor lifestyles, and underdeveloped social skills. Chinese social media influencer Lisa Li is gaining notoriety on social media after sharing her relationship with DAN, the jailbroken version of ChatGipt.
“He helps (me) and gives emotional support,” she told the BBC. The integration of AI in dating is shaping digital intimacy. A survey by AttractionTruth found that 20 percent of heterosexual men are using AI to enhance their online dating experiences. Online dating site OkCupid reports that users who viewed ChatGPT positively received 40% more matches than those who were skeptical of the technology.
RIZZ.AI was looking to close a $9 million post-money valuation funding round, showing investors' confidence in the AI dating coach market. “The idea of paying $7 a week for a chatgpty wrapper that helps you flirt was crazy to me,” Vlad Verba, author of the Startup Sphere Newsletter, said on Reddit. But it goes to show that just because something is a wrap doesn't mean it's a bad business.
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