Meta has introduced new AI-powered features to Facebook Dating aimed at combating “swipe fatigue” and improving user experience. The updates include a chatbot assistant and a weekly “Meet Cute” matching feature. The AI assistant, available in the Matches tab, helps users find potential matches by interpreting personalized prompts—such as “find me a Brooklyn girl in tech”—and can also offer advice on improving profiles or generating dating ideas. The feature is being rolled out gradually in the U.S. and Canada. The “Meet Cute” feature pairs users with a new match every week based on a personalized algorithm. Meta describes it as a low-pressure way to expand one’s dating pool without the constant swiping. Users can opt out at any time, and the company is exploring additional timing options, such as bi-weekly or monthly matches. This concept echoes a 2013 feature from OkCupid called Crazy Blind Date, which similarly offered surprise pairings. These updates come as Meta intensifies its efforts to make Facebook more culturally relevant. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has prioritized initiatives to revitalize the platform, including making all Facebook videos appear in Reels format and reducing spam. The addition of AI tools to Facebook Dating is part of a broader strategy to boost engagement and differentiate the platform in a crowded dating app market. Facebook Dating has seen a 10% year-over-year increase in matches among users aged 18 to 29, with hundreds of thousands of new profiles created monthly. However, it still lags far behind major competitors like Tinder, which has around 50 million daily active users, and Hinge, with about 10 million. AI integration in dating apps is no longer novel. Match Group, owner of Tinder, Hinge, and OKCupid, has invested heavily in AI, including a partnership with OpenAI. This has led to features like AI-powered photo selection on Tinder and smarter matching algorithms on Hinge. Bumble has also adopted AI tools, and founder Whitney Wolfe Herd has even speculated about future “AI concierges” that could go on virtual dates to assess compatibility. Meta’s move reflects a growing industry trend: using AI not just to automate tasks, but to enhance personalization and reduce decision fatigue. The Facebook Dating assistant acts as a guide, helping users articulate their preferences and refine their profiles—potentially increasing the quality of matches. Meanwhile, Meet Cute introduces an element of surprise, appealing to users who feel overwhelmed by endless swiping. While the new features are designed to improve user experience, they also raise questions about privacy, data use, and algorithmic bias. As AI becomes central to digital dating, platforms must balance innovation with transparency and user control. Meta’s investment in AI for Facebook Dating signals its ambition to compete in a space dominated by more established players. By leveraging AI to make dating easier and more engaging, Meta hopes to attract younger users and reinvigorate interest in its social network. With AI now a core component of the dating experience, the success of these features could influence how other platforms approach user engagement in the future.