Tinder is looking to AI to help combat ‘swiping fatigue’ and dating app burnout

Tinder is turning to a new AI-powered feature, Chemistry, to help it reduce so-called “swiping fatigue,” a growing problem among online dating users who feel tired and want better results.

Launched last quarter, the dating app powered by Match says Chemistry supports AI to get to know users through questions and, with permission, access their Camera Roll on their phone to learn more about their interests and personality.

On Match’s Q4 2026 earnings call, one analyst from Morgan Stanley asked for an update on the product’s performance to date.

Game manager Spencer Rascoff noted that Chemistry was still being tested in Australia, but said the feature gives users “an AI way to interact with Tinder.” He explained that users can choose to answer questions to “get a drop or two, rather than swiping through multiple profiles.”

In addition to Chemistry’s Q&A and Camera Roll features, the company plans to use the AI ​​feature in other ways going forward, the CEO also said.

Most importantly, Rascoff said the feature is designed to combat swipe fatigue — a complaint from users who say they have to swipe through multiple profiles to find potential matches.

The company’s move toward AI comes as Tinder and other dating apps have been facing a decline in paying subscribers, user burnout, and a drop in new signups.

In the fourth quarter, new signups on Tinder were down 5% year-over-year, and its monthly active users were down 9%. These numbers show some improvements in previous areas, which Match features AI-driven recommendations that change the order of profiles shown to women, and other product reviews.

Match said this year, it aims to address the common pain points of Gen Z, including better compatibility, authenticity and trust. To do so, the company said it is redesigning detection to make it less repetitive and using other features, such as Face Check – a system to verify facial recognition – to reduce bad actors. On Tinder, the latter led to a more than 50% reduction in interactions with bad actors, Match noted.

Tinder’s decision to move from swiping to more targeted, AI-powered recommendations could have a big impact on the dating app. Today, the swiping method, popularized by Tinder, encourages users to imagine that they are choosing a match from an infinite number of profiles. But in fact, the application gives the illusion of choice, since the same should be the two ways of connecting, and even then, the spark is not guaranteed.

The company posted a profit in the fourth quarter, with revenue of $878 million and EPS of 83 cents per share, above Wall Street estimates. But the weak guidance saw the stock lower on Tuesday, before rising again in retail trade on Wednesday.

In addition to AI, Match will also increase its brand marketing to help increase Tinder engagement. The company is committing to $50 million in Tinder marketing spend, which will include creative campaigns on TikTok and Instagram, where users will make claims that “Tinder is cool again,” Rascoff noted.