Hot and code: Dating in the time of AI

It's been a year of paradoxes, when it comes to the world of dating (and so much else, really; but let's stick with dating for now).

- Simran Mangharam

In 2025, the search for love has taken new forms, driven by both technological advancements and the desire to avoid them. On the one hand, there has been a shift towards simplicity, and an effort to replace the swipe-ghost-repeat cycle of dating apps with genuine, real-world connection. (This has forced the apps to rethink their strategy and redefine what digital dating should look like, particularly in India, with a growing number offering almost-platonic offline events that relieve some of the pressure by positioning themselves as networking opportunities or friendship zones too).

On the other hand, artificial intelligence has stormed the stage. AI, in the world of dating, is no longer confined to back-end algorithms. People are “meeting”, “falling in love” with and “marrying” personalised digital programs. While many of us saw this coming in some form, it's strange to think how quickly Spike Jonze’s modern-day classic, Her (2013), crossed the line from science-fiction to romantic drama.