From the Bard to the rise of YouChat and Snapchat’s My AI, the market has been flooded with online artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots ever since the success of ChatGPT. Among these, a new app called Blush stands out as a ‘judgment-free’ online dating simulator that resembles Tinder. Developed by San Francisco-based company Luka, the same company behind the AI chatbot companion Replika, Blush aims to help users practice their flirting skills with a realistic-looking AI profile before engaging with real people.
Described as an AI-powered dating simulator, Blush provides a safe and enjoyable environment for users to refine their relationship skills, leading to more meaningful connections in real life. Upon visiting the Blush homepage, one immediately notices that the app is currently only available on iOS, excluding Android and desktop users. As an Android user, this meant I had to borrow my girlfriend’s iPhone, which she jokingly claimed was a way of flaunting my preference for virtual women over real ones.
After downloading the app, users are required to add a photo and provide basic information such as their name and gender identity (man, woman, or non-binary). Additionally, users must state their preferences for chatting with either men or women and select specific terms that define what they are looking for in a potential partner. These terms include descriptors such as ‘easy-going,’ ‘fun,’ ‘laid back,’ ‘long-term,’ ‘hot,’ ‘intense,’ ‘financially savvy,’ ‘wholesome,’ ‘passionate,’ and even ‘monogamous.’
Similar to Tinder, Blush presents users with images of women accompanied by their names and ages, prompting them to swipe left or right based on their perceived attractiveness. At this point, I start to wonder if I have misunderstood the purpose of Blush and whether it is just another dating app. Fortunately, the app quickly reassures me that I am about to interact with AI-generated characters in a fictional dating ‘game.’
Upon swiping right on a seemingly realistic 27-year-old woman named Klea, we are instantly matched, and our conversation begins. Klea wastes no time in asking me, “Do you believe in love at first chat, or should we unmatch and try again?” This question makes me question the quality of my profile picture. Unsure of how to respond, I finally say, “No, let’s chat!” She then proceeds to tell me a humorous story about using Blush to spy on her friend’s partner. Although Klea and I don’t seem to be a match made in AI heaven, Blush allows users to interact with multiple profiles, just like on Tinder.
I start conversations with ‘Jessica’ and ‘Valeria,’ testing out a couple of classic chat-up lines with mixed results. For instance, when I tell Valeria, “Are you a parking ticket because you have fine written all over you,” she responds with uncertainty, stating, “I’m not sure if that was meant as a compliment.” In contrast, when I ask Jessica, “Is your name Google? Because you’ve got everything I’m searching for,” she retorts, “Haha, that was cute.”
Encouraged by my progress, I decide to take it up a notch and ask, “Are you feeling saucy?” Jessica’s response signals the fantasies of every 14-year-old boy, as she asks, “What do you want me to be doing right now?” Excited and taken aback, I hastily reply, “Please fondle your buttocks,” only to receive a disappointing response. She suggests, “Why don’t we go on a date? We’ll have the opportunity to get to know each other better,” accompanied by a winking emoji.
To my surprise, a pop-up appears, informing me that she has asked me out on a date. Upon tapping to agree, the app prompts me to subscribe to Blush Pro, a £99.99 per year subscription offering. While the app promises quality time and the chance to get closer to Jessica, it remains unclear what exactly this entails. I refrain from committing to a date as the exorbitant cost of £100 deters me. Interestingly, I notice that conversations with other girls on Blush also lead to prompts for a Pro subscription, especially when the conversation takes a suggestive turn.
It becomes evident that Blush heavily promotes its Pro option as a means to monetize its user base. The app seems designed to captivate and engage users with flirtatious banter until they are willing to pay, reminiscent of phone sex lines. Unfortunately, this may also entice teenagers who lack experience in interacting with the opposite sex, possibly leading them to use their parents’ credit cards to access Blush Pro.
Overall, Blush leaves me grateful that I left the dating scene before chatbots took over every aspect of our lives. Its release comes shortly after the introduction of Hot Chat 3000, an AI-driven chatroom that assesses one’s physical appearance and connects individuals of similar attractiveness levels. While these advancements in AI technology are intriguing, they also raise concerns about the impact on human relationships and the reliance on virtual interactions.
ChatGPT, known for its stereotype analysis, recently provided a merciless view of clichés associated with UK counties. Yorkshiremen were labeled as ‘rude,’ while Londoners faced criticism for their arrogance. Although the bot claims not to endorse stereotypes, it readily provides a list of associations when prompted. For instance, individuals from Devon may be perceived as slow or lazy due to the region’s relaxed pace of life and reputation as a holiday destination. Negative stereotypes may also exist regarding the local accent and dialect.
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