Tinder’s pushing the boundaries of digital dating again, this time teaming up with OpenAI to launch a game that lets you practice your pick-up lines with artificially intelligent avatars. It’s called The Game Game, and it’s all about roleplaying flirty scenarios in a judgement-free zone.
Using OpenAI’s latest voice-mode tech from GPT-4o, users are plunged into meet-cute situations where they chat up digital characters and score points based on how smooth (or cringe) they sound. And yes, the responses are gloriously robotic.
Playful, Not Perfect
The vibe? Intentionally awkward. According to Tinder’s VP of Product, Hillary Paine, they designed it that way on purpose. “We didn’t want it to feel overly polished or intense,” she told Fast Company. “Instead, we leaned into humour, awkwardness, and low-pressure moments.”
It’s not meant to replace real-life flirting, but to help folks feel more confident and ready for the real deal. A recent Tinder survey backs that up, 64% of young singles reckon a bit of cringe is fine if it leads to a real connection.
Epic Fails and Glitches
From calling AI avatars “spicy” in kitchen-party scenes to the app talking back through Bluetooth speakers like it’s haunted, user experiences range from hilarious to downright bizarre. Even Match Group’s CEO, Spencer Rascoff, gave it a whirl and promptly embarrassed himself on Instagram.
Still, it’s not all gimmicks. Tinder insists the game is purely for practice and fun; they’ve also confirmed none of the audio gets used to train AI models.
Limited Run, Big Reactions
Only available in the US for now, and just on iPhones, The Game Game isn’t a permanent feature but it’s sparked big conversations about AI’s growing role in dating. While some users have called it “clunky” or “too weird,” others say it’s a cheeky way to ease the nerves before a first date.
