Category: Known

Love in the Time of AI: Chatbots Are Taking Over Online Dating

Posted on August 5, 2026
Amata

WALL STREET JOURNAL – New AI dating apps are offering alternatives to swiping. Amata, a chatbot-based matchmaking app, interviews users and charges about $20 to arrange a date, while Known, an AI matchmaking service supported by human matchmakers, recommends compatible partners. Volar, a now-closed AI dating app, previously tested virtual versions of users that went on simulated dates for them. Established platforms are also experimenting with AI: Grindr is developing its gAI assistant, Bumble is testing its Bee matchmaker, and Tinder and Hinge are introducing tools that help users improve profiles and start conversations.

See full article at Wall Street Journal

Known Builds AI Matchmaking Around Voice Interviews

Posted on June 29, 2026
Known logo

LOS ANGELES TIMES – Known is an AI dating app that replaces swiping with a 15-minute AI voice interview about a user’s upbringing, personality, past relationships and dating goals before recommending matches. One user said the experience was more efficient than traditional dating apps but felt AI could not capture the human side of dating. Founded in 2025 by CEO Celeste Amadon, Known charges users per date. The company has recently hosted an AI-matched dating event in San Francisco. The startup has raised ~$10M and plans to expand to San Diego in July. The growing interest in AI-powered dating also includes former Hinge CEO Justin McLeod, who is developing a new AI dating app called Overtone.

See full article at Los Angeles Times

Bumble Expands AI Features With Upcoming ‘Bee’ Assistant

Posted on May 15, 2026
Bumble Bee

AXIOS – Bumble plans to launch a new AI assistant called “Bee” later this year, according to CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd. The feature is part of a broader industry push toward AI-assisted matchmaking, conversation support, and date planning tools. Other startups including Amata, Joey AI, and Known are also using AI for matchmaking conversations, automated date coordination, user verification, and reducing no-shows. Several platforms are shifting away from swipe-focused models toward AI-guided introductions and in-person meetups.

See full article at Axios

New Dating Models Emerge, From $200 Date Bounties to AI-Led Matchmaking

Posted on April 6, 2026
Known dating app

BUSINESS INSIDER – Singles and startups are experimenting with new models that move beyond swiping. In San Francisco, Patricia Tani drew attention by offering a $200 bounty for a curated Valentine’s date, generating hundreds of applications and leading to a real-world match. At the same time, Known uses voice-based AI interviews to gather detailed insights on users and delivers one curated match at a time, aiming to replace large pools of options with smaller, more focused matches.

See full article at Business Insider

AI Dating Startups Shift From Subscriptions to Pay-for-Match

Posted on February 16, 2026
Keeper logo

PITCHBOOK – Several startups are replacing swipe subscriptions with pay-for-results dating. Keeper’s AI charges a $5K fee per match and offers a $50K “marriage bounty,” meaning the client only pays the full amount if the relationship meets its long-term criteria (such as marriage or equivalent commitment). Known uses voice-analysis AI and charges when it sets up a date. Sitch sells arranged date packages (~$90 for three matches in New York). Ditto, focused on students, is free and positioned as a broader social-connection platform. The shift is from paying to browse profiles to paying for actual introductions or outcomes.

See full article at Pitchbook

Known Uses AI Interviews to Replace Swiping With One-to-One Matching

Posted on February 2, 2026
Logo of dating app Known

FAST COMPANY – Known is a dating app that replaces swiping with an AI-led interview process. Users speak with an AI that assesses interests, values, and context, then receive one curated match at a time rather than multiple options. The app handles introductions and date logistics, aiming to prioritise compatibility and real-world dates over prolonged in-app engagement.

See full article at Fast Company

Dating Apps Turn to AI After User Growth and Revenue Declines

Posted on December 29, 2025

BUSINESS INSIDER – Dating apps including Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, and Grindr are investing tens of millions of dollars in AI-powered matchmaking to counter swipe fatigue, declining engagement, and falling paid-user numbers. Match Group’s stock is down ~75% over five years and its paying users fell 5% YOY, while Bumble’s share price is down ~50% this year, it laid off 30% of staff, and paying users dropped 18%. The companies are deploying generative AI for matchmaking, profile creation, flirting, and safety, with Tinder testing its Chemistry feature and Grindr launching AI-driven recommendation feeds. Analysts say AI alone cannot revive unpopular products. At the same time, AI-first startups are raising capital and entering the market, including Sitch, which has raised $9M and charges $90 for three matches, alongside new apps such as Known, Ditto, and Amata, while Facebook has introduced an AI dating assistant.

See full article at Business Insider

Known Raises $9.7M to Test Voice AI Dating App Focused on Faster In-Person Dates

Posted on December 22, 2025
Logo of the company 'known' designed in a modern font against a light background.

TECH CRUNCH – Known has raised $9.7M in funding as it tests a voice AI–driven dating app designed to move users toward faster in-person dates. The San Francisco–based startup replaces traditional profiles with long, conversational voice onboarding sessions that capture nuanced preferences and improve matching. In a local beta, the company says about 80% of introductions led to real-life dates, far higher than swipe-based apps. Matches must accept introductions and agree to dates within short time windows to reduce ghosting, and the app also helps schedule dates and choose restaurants. Known is currently testing in San Francisco ahead of a broader launch.

See full article at Tech Crunch