• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

3

Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

3

Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
TechTinder

I tried Tinder and OpenAI’s new flirtbot—and one aspect was eerie and unnerving

Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
By
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
By
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 3, 2025, 7:05 AM ET
The "Game Game" lets Tinder users test out their flirting skills on an AI chatbot.
The "Game Game" lets Tinder users test out their flirting skills on an AI chatbot.Courtesy of Tinder
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.
  • Tinder’s limited-time only, OpenAI-powered feature called The “Game Game” lets users practice their flirting with eerily realistic chatbots in funny scenarios. The bot responds to a user’s voice and then gives them a ranking on a three-flame tier and constructive feedback. 

Tinder’s solution to the increasingly stressful world of dating is a flirting chatbot powered by OpenAI that aims to help users get comfortable with IRL meetups—and its standards are amusingly high.

Recommended Video

For an unspecified limited time, Tinder users in the U.S. can access The “Game Game” by clicking the Tinder logo in the app to practice their conversation (and pickup lines) with a flirtbot that responds in real time. During each conversation, the game gives users tips on how to improve, and after the conversation wraps up, it offers constructive feedback. After playing, users can share their score with friends.

The “Game Game” uses OpenAI’s Realtime API, GPT-4o, and GPT-4o mini to run it, according to a press release. The company says user data will not be used to train any AI models.

Hillary Paine, Tinder’s VP of product, growth & revenue, said The “Game Game,” a reference to a person’s flirting skills, doesn’t guarantee real-life dating success. Rather, the “proof of concept” shows technology can complement authenticity rather than replace it, she said.

“It’s not meant to be a blueprint for how to flirt IRL, and we don’t expect users to treat it that way. Human connection is messy and nuanced, and The Game Game is more about helping people feel comfortable expressing themselves than delivering a formula for success,” Paine said in a statement to Fortune.

When I tried chatting with the bot Wednesday, I was surprised by its responsiveness and that it quickly understood and responded to my poor attempts at flirting. The voice was unnervingly realistic and the way it reacted to my pickup lines, and the supposed “authenticity” of my statements, was eerie. But it was also fun, and after a brutal strikeout and stumbling over my words, I managed to get full marks—on my fifth try.

The game works by serving up strange scenarios with potential romantic partners based on the age and gender of who a user’s profile says they’re interested in. Users are limited to five sessions daily, said Paine. The situations can either be easy, medium, or hard, and the bot’s standards for a perfect score increase with each difficulty level. When the user presses “Let’s Go,” the AI starts talking to you and then pauses for your reply.

When I clicked the start button, I was caught off-guard by a realistic feminine voice and a friendly, if random, comment about crab cakes from a 34-year-old librarian named Emma who supposedly started chatting me up in a food truck line.

“I always say nothing beats a good crab cake from around here, hon. What’s your go-to food truck favorite?” the bot said. 

After stumbling over my words and panickingly mentioning that I also liked crab cakes (I don’t), I desperately veered off topic to talk about travel, how I hadn’t visited Baltimore in years, and finally suggested we go visit a museum sometime. I managed to pull off a two flame ranking out of three.

The feedback it offered me was to “Be clearer when expressing your thoughts” and to “Explore mutual interests…” As a Gen Zer, I probably would’ve reacted the same way if someone had randomly struck up a conversation with me about crab cakes anyway.

During another attempt at charming the not-so-robotic SwoonBot, I struck out when I couldn’t recover from a scenario where I accidentally insulted a dish by a chef named Chloe who called me “dude.” Unfortunately, I forgot to apologize for insulting the dish. 

“Hey, dude, I get it. Everyone’s cut their own taste. But hey, it’s all about enjoying new flavors, right?” the bot said.

Finally, after four tries, I got into a rhythm and tried for a blunt approach to try to reach the elusive three-flame ranking. In this scenario, I was stuck in a Bali elevator with a 27-year-old Australian electrician named Amelia.

When the bot asked me about other surprising situations I’ve been in, I responded cheekily as a test: “The only surprising situation is just how lucky I got to be stuck with someone as beautiful as you.”

The line worked, and by the end of the conversation, I was curiously flattered to hear Amelia setting up plans for a coffee date.

“Here’s to hoping we’ll be out of this lift soon,” the bot said. “Then we can enjoy the day ahead and make the most of our Bali adventure. Let’s look forward to that coffee and some great conversations.”

About the Author
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezReporter
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Role: Reporter
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez is a reporter for Fortune covering general business news.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

John Collison, president and co-founder of Stripe
SuccessJobs
Stripe cofounder says Gen Z will need two college majors to compete thanks to AI—and investing legend Charlie Munger called it first
By Emma BurleighJune 26, 2026
51 minutes ago
young woman looking frustrated while working on her laptop at home
SuccessCareers
Gen Z’s hiring hell is real: 1 in 3 employers admit they’re replacing entry-level roles with AI—and tech and manufacturing jobs are most at risk
By Preston ForeJune 26, 2026
52 minutes ago
Fortune 500 Power Moves: Which executives gained and lost power this week
C-SuiteFortune 500 Power Moves
Fortune 500 Power Moves: Which executives gained and lost power this week
By Fortune EditorsJune 26, 2026
2 hours ago
jon
Commentaryphilanthropy
Shell Foundation CEO: climate tech works. Getting it to a billion people who need it is the hard part
By Jonathan BermanJune 26, 2026
3 hours ago
Mature businessman leading project meeting in office conference room
AICFO Daily
CFOs are bullish on their own companies—even as they turn bearish on the economy
By Sheryl EstradaJune 26, 2026
4 hours ago
Exclusive: Framework Ventures raises $400 million for fourth fund as firm expands beyond crypto
NewslettersTerm Sheet
Exclusive: Framework Ventures raises $400 million for fourth fund as firm expands beyond crypto
By Ben WeissJune 26, 2026
5 hours ago

Most Popular

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
1 day ago
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
Success
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 24, 2026
2 days ago
Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
Success
Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 25, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of June 25, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 25, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 25, 2026
1 day ago
Ray Dalio says the U.S. just had its 'Suez moment'—and history says what comes next could end an empire
Economy
Ray Dalio says the U.S. just had its 'Suez moment'—and history says what comes next could end an empire
By Nick LichtenbergJune 26, 2026
9 hours ago
Trump turns on Big Oil donors who spent nearly $100 million to get him elected—now he wants the DOJ to investigate them for price gouging
Economy
Trump turns on Big Oil donors who spent nearly $100 million to get him elected—now he wants the DOJ to investigate them for price gouging
By Tristan BoveJune 25, 2026
19 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.