Tinder is trying to lure people back to online dating with IRL events, virtual speed dating

Tinder held its first product keynote on Thursday, unveiling a proud slate of updates designed to refresh its product, strengthen security, and tie in AI. This comes after Match Group’s $50 million investment in brand development, announced last August, as the parent company looks to reengage with its user base and win over Gen Z brides.

Among the updates are new features for finding in-person events and meeting people in real life, as well as a new virtual speed dating experience being tested in Los Angeles. Additionally, a series of AI enhancements are introduced to improve the same algorithm and improve user safety.

One of the most notable features is the new Events tab, which will be in beta for Los Angeles users starting in late May or early June. This feature allows users to find select local events—such as speakeasies, bowling, raves, and pottery classes—where they can connect in person.

This is a nod to Gen Z’s growing desire to connect with the real world through endless swiping. There has been a shift away from traditional dating apps, as young people seek authentic offline experiences or unconventional ways to meet potential partners. Other apps, such as Breeze, 222, Timeleft, and Thursday, have also tapped into this in-real-life (IRL) trend.

“We’re really trying to meet younger users in places where they’re already engaged,” Hillary Paine, senior vice president of product at Tinder, told TechCrunch. “You can go to a party with your friend and have fun, or you might meet someone new. Instead of asking users to choose between their dating life and their social life, we’re trying to bring these things together and create a more social social experience first.”

Attendees’ profiles will be available in the app after the event for users to like and swipe on, a concept reminiscent of the “Missed Connection” ads, allowing users who may not have had the courage to talk to someone or simply missed the opportunity to reconnect.

Speed ​​dating is also experiencing a resurgence. To get on the bandwagon, Tinder revealed that it is now testing a video speed dating experience in LA, where users can join scheduled three-minute video chats with potential matches. This serves as a “vibe check,” designed to help people break the ice and gauge chemistry before committing to an in-person meeting.

The company noted that users will have the option to extend promising conversations beyond three minutes. Your profile picture must be verified to join the experience.

Many of the players seem to be tired of video interviews, which makes it interesting to see if this study, which is presented at the end of the game, will be successful. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tinder introduced a face-to-face feature that was later discontinued, indicating a decline in interest.

AI was also a big theme in the keynote speech.

Tinder continues to invest in technology, starting with its “Chemistry” feature, which uses AI to learn about users through questions and, with their permission, their cameras. This feature controls the same everyday to help reduce swiping fatigue and is now rolling out in the US and Canada after initial testing in Australia and New Zealand.

In the future, Chemistry features will expand from just one feature to something that shapes the entire Tinder experience, making it more personal, the company said.

Additionally, Tinder has introduced a new “Reading Mode” that introduces more related matches to the front. The system is designed to quickly gain insights into what users are looking for in potential matches, tailoring recommendations to better suit personal preferences. Previously, Tinder required multiple swipe sessions to collect enough signals to properly personalize.

With Learning Mode, Paine notes, it can begin to understand the user from the first session. He said, “We hope this is something that makes Tinder feel like it understands you from the first time you use it, or when you come back to Tinder after a while, it feels like it finds me, and I don’t have to spend a lot of time telling Tinder what I want again.”

Tinder is also improving safety features such as “Does This Concern You?”, which now uses advanced language models to better detect dangerous messages and automatically block rude content, while “Are you sure?” information is fine-tuned to more accurately identify potentially harmful interactions.

Visually, Tinder is getting a sleek redesign: edge-to-edge profile pictures, a subtle blur effect, and a Liquid Glass aesthetic for the Like and Nope bar. New modes are also on the horizon: “Music Mode” will allow up to 20 Spotify songs to automatically populate a user’s profile, and “Astrological Mode” will allow users to add birth information to unlock their Sun, Moon, and Rising signs and check compatibility. This follows the recent introduction of Double Date Mode and College Mode.

Overall, the slew of announcements represents a significant change in Tinder’s approach. While Match reported a positive revenue result in Q4 2025, with a profit of $878 million, the company has faced successive periods of decline in paying subscribers. As a result, it is under pressure to retain users and restore investor confidence, as their vision remains vigilant, accepting changing user preferences and heightened competition.

It remains to be seen whether these changes will help maintain the interest of date users in the app. However, one thing is clear: Tinder is making a significant commitment to the future of dating, moving away from relying on swiping and adapting to what it believes its younger users want.