SugarDaddyMeet Takes a Stand Against AI-Generated Photos

Posted on January 2, 2026
Logo of SugarDaddyMeet with the text 'SUGAR DADDY MEET' and 'SINCE 2007' on a black background.

PRESS RELEASE – SugarDaddyMeet has introduced stricter controls to limit the use of AI-generated photos and protect trust on its platform. The company requires photo verification before members can message or use voice and video features, reviews reported images manually, and applies additional verification options for higher-income members. The aim is to reduce misrepresentation, ensure profiles reflect real people, and maintain reliable interactions as AI-altered images become more common in online dating.

See full article at 24-7PressRelease

Soon New Yorkers Will Be Able to Take Their Chatbot Partners on a in-Person Date

Posted on January 2, 2026
A smartphone displaying a virtual companion sits on a table in a dimly lit restaurant, surrounded by elegant dining settings including wine glasses and a candle.

NYPOST – London-based Eva AI is launching a pop-up café in Manhattan in February where visitors can take their AI chatbot partners on in-person “dates,” using phone stands at tables to interact with them. The company says interest in AI companionship is growing, citing data showing 23% of millennials and 33% of Gen Z have used AI as a romantic companion. 

See full article at NYPost

INNI: A New Dating App Built on Personality-Based Compatibility

Posted on January 1, 2026
Inni

OPW – INNI is a new dating app launched by a psychology-focused startup called Dimensional, founded by Saeid Fard, an entrepreneur who previously built tools centered on personality and self-understanding. INNI applies personality science to dating by predicting and explaining compatibility between users, using structured psychological inputs instead of relying mainly on self-written bios or surface-level signals, with the goal of helping users make clearer, more informed matching decisions.

UAE Muslims Are Becoming More Open to Online Matchmaking

Posted on January 1, 2026
Muzz app

GULF TODAY – Many people in the UAE remain cautious about online matchmaking due to concerns around privacy, safety, cultural expectations, and whether users are genuinely seeking marriage. Muzz is helping change this by offering a marriage-focused platform built specifically for Muslims, with features such as controlled photo visibility, strong verification, chaperone options, faith- and values-based matching, and active moderation. With ~15M users and ~600K marriages worldwide, Muzz has gained trust in the UAE by aligning technology with cultural and religious expectations, making online matchmaking feel credible, serious, and secure.

See full article at Gulf Today

World-Class Service Providers

Posted on January 1, 2026

Courtlandbrooks logo darkerOPW – Do you have a world-class service you would like to offer to the dating industry? Are you using a world-class service provider that wants to broaden their customer base (and lower their fixed cost-base so they sharpen up their pricing)? Courtland Brooks helps dating companies grow, and we also help best-in-class service providers approach the dating industry in an intelligent manner.

For the price of a marketing manager you can get access to a seasoned team of online dating professionals. See Testimonials here. See pricing and service overview. Email mark@courtlandbrooks.com or simply book an opening call here.

Simon Glinsky: The Brain Behind Match.com

Posted on December 30, 2025

LTR – Join us for an exclusive interview with Simon Glinsky, co-founder of Match.com, as he delves into the origins and evolution of one of the world’s first online dating platforms. Simon discusses his journey from McKinsey to Match, the initial challenges faced, and the innovative strategies that made Match.com a groundbreaking success. Learn about the first business plan, the role of technology in early online dating, and the future of AI in relationship-building from one of the key minds behind the brand.

[**See the video here on YouTube**]

The November LTR was kindly sponsored by Courtland Brooks

AI Matchmaking: Podcast With Adam Cohen-Aslatei, CEO of Three Day Rule

Posted on December 29, 2025
Promotional image for the podcast episode 'AI Matchmaking: AI Reshapes Dating for Lasting Love' featuring Adam Cohen-Aslatei, CEO of Three Day Rule, and Shana James, M.A. The image includes text with the episode title and highlights the focus on using AI for enhancing dating experiences.

GOOD MEN PROJECT – In a Practicing Love episode, Shana James speaks with Adam Cohen-Aslatei, CEO of Three Day Rule, about using AI to address dating burnout and failures of swipe-based apps, especially for relationship-ready singles over 40. The discussion focuses on how AI is used to identify compatibility patterns, improve matching quality, and reduce guesswork through tools like better photos, identity verification, and messaging support, while still relying on human judgment. Three Day Rule positions AI as a complement to intentional dating and human discernment, not a replacement for real connection.

See full article at Good Men Project

Dating Apps Turn to AI After User Growth and Revenue Declines

Posted on December 29, 2025

BUSINESS INSIDER – Dating apps including Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, and Grindr are investing tens of millions of dollars in AI-powered matchmaking to counter swipe fatigue, declining engagement, and falling paid-user numbers. Match Group’s stock is down ~75% over five years and its paying users fell 5% YOY, while Bumble’s share price is down ~50% this year, it laid off 30% of staff, and paying users dropped 18%. The companies are deploying generative AI for matchmaking, profile creation, flirting, and safety, with Tinder testing its Chemistry feature and Grindr launching AI-driven recommendation feeds. Analysts say AI alone cannot revive unpopular products. At the same time, AI-first startups are raising capital and entering the market, including Sitch, which has raised $9M and charges $90 for three matches, alongside new apps such as Known, Ditto, and Amata, while Facebook has introduced an AI dating assistant.

See full article at Business Insider

Known Raises $9.7M to Test Voice AI Dating App Focused on Faster In-Person Dates

Posted on December 22, 2025
Logo of the company 'known' designed in a modern font against a light background.

TECH CRUNCH – Known has raised $9.7M in funding as it tests a voice AI–driven dating app designed to move users toward faster in-person dates. The San Francisco–based startup replaces traditional profiles with long, conversational voice onboarding sessions that capture nuanced preferences and improve matching. In a local beta, the company says about 80% of introductions led to real-life dates, far higher than swipe-based apps. Matches must accept introductions and agree to dates within short time windows to reduce ghosting, and the app also helps schedule dates and choose restaurants. Known is currently testing in San Francisco ahead of a broader launch.

See full article at Tech Crunch

Daters Are More Open to Unemployed Partners, Tawkify Survey Finds

Posted on December 19, 2025
A man in a suit sitting on the sidewalk, looking concerned, with a cardboard sign that says 'Looking for a job' next to him.

FAST COMPANY – A new Tawkify survey of ~1K U.S. adults shows daters in 2025 are far more flexible about unemployment: only 29% see joblessness as a red flag, and just 42% consider living with parents a deal-breaker. Most employed singles (75%) are open to dating someone unemployed if they have a side hustle or personal project. But unemployment still reshapes dating behavior: only one in three jobless singles actively look for a partner, many stop dating or switch to cheaper dates, and 65% cite financial strain as the biggest barrier. Confidence also drops, with 62% feeling less desirable and 52% anxious about disclosing unemployment.

See full article at Fast Company