IRL: Online Life is Real Life We Found Love in an AI Place
8 snips
Jun 17, 2025 This episode dives into the impacts of AI on dating and love. Host Bridget Todd uncovers biases in dating algorithms, revealing how they affect attractiveness and perpetuate discrimination. With insights from users and founders of innovative apps, the discussion highlights a new platform that values personality over superficial traits. Privacy in dating apps is also scrutinized, as the line between human connection and AI companionship blurs. The conversation emphasizes the importance of inclusive design and genuine interactions in a tech-driven world.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Discovering Biased Attractiveness Rankings
- April Williams discovered dating app algorithms rank attractiveness and mostly match users with similar rankings.
- She found this rating system biased and questioned the power behind defining attractiveness standards.
Normative Attractiveness Bias
- Dating apps promote normative attractiveness equating it to white, blonde, and thin features.
- This reinforces racial and cultural biases globally, impacting users of color negatively.
Attraction Is Socially Shaped
- Preferences in attraction are not purely personal but shaped by culture, upbringing, and race.
- The idea that attraction is natural sameness preference is a misconception challenged by social factors.