Automated love: digital agents invade dating apps

AI-powered tools create comprehensive profiles and search for compatible matches without direct user intervention. Experts warn of risks of impersonation and loss of authenticity in emotionally charged environments.

Artificial intelligence no longer just recommends what to stream or buy online. Now it can also create a profile on a dating app, write an engaging bio, and start swiping on your behalf. The problem: in some cases, it does so without the user’s explicit consent.

This phenomenon opens a new front in the debate about algorithmic autonomy, digital identity, and ethical boundaries in one of the most sensitive areas: personal relationships.

From Assistants to Autonomous “Agents”

In 2025, experimental platforms like MoltMatch, derived from the OpenClaw project, began circulating, proposing something radical: AI agents capable of generating complete romantic profiles using public photos from social media, writing descriptions, and initiating conversations with potential matches.

Unlike traditional chatbots—which respond when the user types—these agents act proactively. They analyze available information, make decisions, and execute actions on behalf of the user.

One case that went viral was that of Jack Luo, a 21-year-old student whose agent created a profile using his real photos and personal information, interacting with other users who believed they were speaking directly with him. According to reports, he had not given specific authorization for this use in a dating environment.

The incident raised concerns: how far can automation go in spaces where identity and authenticity are central?

Real Photos, Diffuse Consent

One of the most controversial issues is the use of real images taken from social media. In some reported cases, people’s photos were used to create profiles on these platforms without their explicit consent.

The situation is reminiscent of previous debates about deepfakes and identity theft, but with a key difference: here, it’s not necessarily about altering images, but about reusing them in a completely different context.

Technology ethics experts warn that consent given to post a photo on Instagram or LinkedIn does not automatically imply authorization for an agent to use it in a dating system.

Source: www.itsitio.com