Gen Z's Frustration with Dating Apps Fuels AI Matchmaker Ditto

As Gen Z's disillusionment with traditional dating apps grows, a new player enters the scene with an AI-powered matchmaking system that's gaining traction among college students.

Amanda Silberling, Senior Writer at TechCrunch, recently spoke with Ditto co-founders Allen Wang and Eric Liu about their innovative approach to online dating. According to Wang, the duo developed Ditto after witnessing the behavioral shift in how people connect with each other.

“We were firsthand witnessing the behavioral shift in terms of how people are connecting with each other,” Wang said. “We see that people are getting super tired of all the endless swiping and endless small talk, and they’re really looking for something more genuine in real life.”

Instead of a traditional app, Ditto allows users to sign up by texting a certain iMessage number, along with a code. The AI chatbot then introduces itself and guides users through an onboarding process, asking basic biographical information and more specific questions to understand their personality, interests, and dating preferences.

• The Ditto algorithm tries to match people not based on similar hobbies and interests, but rather what those hobbies and interests say about who someone is.

According to Wang, the algorithm is able to predict chemistry between users by identifying deeper connections, such as a shared sense of adventure or individualism.

“If there’s this guy, and he’s really into rock climbing, skydiving, and outdoor sports, and this girl, if she’s into hip hop, streetwear, and skateboarding, then even though those hobbies don’t look similar on the surface, I can tell you deeper down, both are very adventurous; maybe they’re very individualistic,” Wang said.

Every Wednesday at 7 PM, Ditto messages users with their match for the week, along with a collage-like graphic introducing them to one another and explaining why they might be a good match.

• The app has already gained 150,000 signups, with about 20% of matches resulting in a date.

While safety concerns are inevitable with any dating app, Ditto has implemented a built-in vetting process, verifying users' university affiliation and .edu email.

• The app is currently only available at a few dozen colleges, but the founders are focused on growing to more schools while scaling safely.

With $9.2 million in seed funding, Ditto is well-positioned to continue innovating and expanding its reach.

“Our users are college students, and they can smell corporate marketing from a mile away,” Wang said. “But the stunts are the top of the funnel, not the product… Viral moments get college kids to look; a good first date is what makes them stay.”

As the dating app landscape continues to evolve, Ditto's AI-powered approach may be just what Gen Z needs to find meaningful connections.