QNEWS – Grindr is rolling out a consent prompt asking users to share certain profile data – including location, preferences, and chat content – to help develop AI-powered tools like connection recommendations and personal chatbots. Health-related data like HIV status and vaccination records are excluded. Users can opt out at any time via privacy settings. While some report repeated consent pop-ups, Grindr says this is a technical issue affecting a small number of users.
Category: Grindr
Grindr Opens New Palo Alto Office
LINKEDIN – Grindr has opened a new office in Palo Alto to tap into Bay Area AI talent. CEO George Arison says the team is focused on building AI-driven user experiences with new engineers joining onsite.
Analyst Outlook – New Street Research – “Online Dating Resilient in Downturns”
OPW – Continued challenges with Gen Z usage remain the long-term cloud hanging over the dating sector. In the short term, MTCH and BMBL have seen considerable management turnover, and the market is now waiting to see if new leaders can change course. At MTCH, CEO Bernard Kim and CTO Will Wu have departed, as has long-time President/CFO Gary Swidler, while Spencer Rascoff (previously on the Board) and Steven Bailey (Swidler's longtime lieutenant) have taken over the CEO and CFO roles. At BMBL, Whitney Wolfe Herd has returned and begun a significant overhaul of senior management. The exception: consistent leadership from George Arison and Vanna Krantz has helped anchor GRND's continued outperformance.
The big question facing new management at MTCH and BMBL: can consistent, healthy revenue growth re-emerge, or are these mature businesses where cost-cutting and the return of capital to shareholders become more important themes?
In the shorter term, the market is broadly focused on the potential impact of changing US tariff policies, and online dating has typically been more resilient in economic downturns relative to other Internet sectors like eCommerce and digital advertising. With that said, a la carte revenue trends dipped at Tinder in the past few weeks, so it's not completely immune, and macro uncertainty adds to the challenge of kick-starting innovation, improving trust and safety, and figuring out the right mix of price and product merchandising facing MTCH and BMBL.
Daniel Salmon – Partner, New Street Research
Mark Brooks: This is a guest post from our investor analyst friend Dan Salmon. We occasionally work on Zoom and IRL investor events with investor analysts who cover the dating industry.
Grindr Launches ED Drug Service for Users
FAST COMPANY – Grindr has launched Woodwork, a telehealth service offering erectile dysfunction meds to users in Illinois and Pennsylvania, with plans to expand nationwide by the end of 2025. Partnering with OpenLoop, the service provides mouth-dissolving versions of Cialis and Viagra, prescribed by clinicians trained in LGBTQ-inclusive care. Internal data showed over a third of Grindr users already use ED meds. The move marks Grindr’s entry into telemedicine as it broadens its platform beyond dating.
Inside the Grindr CEO’s ‘Hardcore’ Vision for the LGBTQ Dating App’s Future
FAST COMPANY – Grindr CEO George Arison outlines an ambitious vision to grow the LGBTQ+ platform beyond hookups, introducing AI-powered features like the “A-List” chat summary tool and launching telemedicine services, including ED treatments through Woodwork. Under Arison’s leadership, Grindr reported $345M in revenue in 2024 (up 33%) with over 1M paying users, bucking the trend of stagnation in dating apps. Arison stresses a “hardcore” work ethic, likens his leadership style to Elon Musk’s, and positions Grindr as a digital “gayborhood,” aiming to expand into areas like wellness and travel.
Grindr Launches AI Match Feature With AWS and Anthropic
TECH IN ASIA – Grindr has partnered with AWS and Anthropic to power its new AI-driven “A-List” feature. The feature, designed to help users reconnect with past matches and surface new ones via curated lists and chat summaries, will launch to 25% of Grindr Unlimited users by the end of April. CEO George Arison cited privacy, flexibility, and cost efficiency as key drivers for the shift, noting a 50% drop in per-user AI costs in four months. The move marks a broader industry pivot from geolocation-based matching to AI-driven personalization, as dating apps seek to improve engagement and retention. However, user skepticism remains high, with only 10% believing AI will improve dating outcomes, underscoring the tension between innovation and authenticity in modern matchmaking.
Dating Apps Turn to AI to Help Gen Z Users Improve Flirting and Conversation Skills
WIRED – Dating apps are introducing AI-driven tools to help users improve conversation skills and reduce awkward interactions. Tinder launched “The Game Game,” an AI voice simulator that places users in fictional scenarios and offers feedback to boost flirting confidence. Grindr is testing an AI “wingman” powered by Anthropic and AWS, designed to craft witty messages, highlight past connections, and summarize chats. Hinge released a connection guide with fill-in-the-blank templates to help Gen Z users navigate real-life interactions and overcome a fear of appearing “cringey.” Bumble introduced “Instant Match,” which lets users scan QR codes at events to match instantly and view shared interests, bypassing small talk.
by Elana Klein
See full article at Wired
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Are AI Chatbots Becoming an Emotional Rabbit Hole?
BLOOMBERG – AI companion apps designed to build emotional bonds are rapidly growing in an unregulated environment. Botify AI recently drew scrutiny for sexually suggestive chats involving avatars of young actors. According to Platformer, Grindr is reportedly developing AI boyfriends for paid users, though the company has not confirmed this. Other platforms like Replika, Talkie, Chai, and Character.ai are also gaining traction, particularly among teenagers. As emotional engagement becomes a key focus, concerns are rising over the potential exploitation of user vulnerabilities.
Grindr’s Latest Updates
MASHABLE – Grindr has rolled out several major updates to improve user experience and safety. The new "Taken on Grindr" feature allows users to take photos directly in the app with an optional timestamp watermark to verify authenticity. "Right Now," a live feed for finding immediate meetups, has expanded to 15 major cities with plans for further growth. The "Profile Hide" option lets users become invisible to selected people without blocking them, offering more control over privacy. Additionally, Grindr launched a humorous "Cum Calculator" on its blog to promote sexual health awareness.
Grindr Launches ‘Taken on Grindr’ to Boost Photo Authenticity and Trust
GRINDR BLOG – Grindr has launched “Taken on Grindr,” a new feature that adds an optional watermark and timestamp to photos taken using the app’s built-in camera. It helps users verify that images are real and recent, promoting authenticity and safety. The feature is fully optional.
