Hinge CEO Justin McLeod doesn’t think artificial intelligence can replace genuine human connection — especially in romance.
McLeod discussed how AI can help dating app users find love during a Valentine’s Day-themed episode of The New York Times’ “Hard Fork” podcast. During the interview, McLeod responded to a question about whether Hinge is interested in creating an AI-based agent to date on users’ behalf.
It’s a concept that has gained traction among other dating apps like Grindr, which began testing an AI “wingman” in late 2024 that users can interact with like a chatbot.
