AI, Dating Apps and Gen Z insights from The Future Laboratory Intelligence
Published by: 
16 February 2026
Author: Ayesha Evans
Image: Bridgerton, Season 4, Netflix, US
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Next-gen Dating
Dating apps have unexpectedly become a networking tool. In the Daily Signals and Statistics sections of our trends intelligence platform LS:N Global we revealed that platforms such as Tinder, Bumble and Facebook Dating are popular choices for career-minded users, who often target matches in specific roles or at desirable companies. A new Resume Builder survey of 2,225 users found that one in three people now use dating apps for professional or career-related purposes. This signals a shift towards more human-centred networking, where opportunity starts with conversation, not a résumé.
In The Future Laboratory’s Daily Signals in 2024, we delved into Tinder’s annual Year in Swipe Report for more dating insights. According to the study, 25% of singles surveyed prioritise friendship as the foundation for romantic relationships, reflecting a desire for long-term compatibility.
This trend continued into 2025 as Friendfluence saw singles look to their friends for dating advice: 42% of young singles say friends influence their dating life, and 37% plan to go on group or double dates next year (source: Tinder, the US, the UK, Australia and Canada). In response, the dating app launched Double Date in 2025, a feature that lets pairs match up with pairs for a shared swipe experience. Putting the fun back into dating, the feature was a big success with women under 30.
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How will AI change the game for dating?
Many top dating websites are harnessing the power of AI to personalise experiences, lessen dating fatigue and generate thoughtful conversations. But is this worth the investment when consumers remain unsure about introducing AI into their dating lives?
As Gen Z move away from dating apps and embrace real-life connections to tackle loneliness, The Future Laboratory interviewed Hinge president and chief marketing officer Jackie Jantos to uncover the strategy behind its human-first approach in our The Future of Dating Apps viewpoint.
‘If your goal is engagement, you’ll optimise your product to keep people scrolling and chatting. But if your goal is great dates, like ours, then you have to optimise for a completely different journey’
Jackie Jantos, president and chief marketing officer, Hinge
Read the full viewpoint here.
In Gen Z Dating Futures, we further highlighted how the rise of AI and its contribution to fake news and a lack of trust is pushing Gen Z towards traditional matchmaking methods, such as meeting in person and reviving the meet-cute phenomenon.
To connect with younger consumers, dating brands need to use AI as a tool to enhance emotional connection or offer reflections that deepen users’ understanding of their relational habits and preferences over time.
Get more insights from Gen Z Dating Futures now
The importance of storytelling
Our deputy foresight editor Alice Crossley takes a deeper look at how technology fatigue is pushing the demise of dating apps in her Trad Love op-ed. Building on Gen Z’s retreat from the swipe culture of modern dating, we are seeing how popular culture is returning to old stories.
Three of the most famous 18th- and 19th-century love stories are set to be retold. Author Dolly Alderton and Heartstopper director Euros Lyn are rewriting Pride and Prejudice for the modern age, Emerald Fennell’s version of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights hit cinemas on Valentine’s Day 2026 and filming is rumoured to have started on Focus Features and Working Title Films’ adaptation of Sense and Sensibility.
From story-led gamified experiences that bring back yearning to values-driven profiles and self-reflective prompts, find strategic suggestions for dating apps to win back consumers.
Building on this narrative, we recently saw Hinge expanding its storytelling strategy with the second instalment of its No Ordinary Love campaign. The five-part series on Substack sharing real-world relationship stories is resonating with Gen Z daters seeking more meaningful connections. Get more insights on here.
No Ordinary Love, Hinge Campaign
