Is love a code? The Japanese government seems to think so as it uses AI to help couples find each other. So far, 265 couples that have used the government’s AI app have tied the knot.
The extraordinary government intervention into romance comes as new figures reveal Japan’s population has declined for the 10th year in a row, with birthrates in the Asian country hitting a record low. As of June 30, the government AI romance app had 16,000 registered members, whittled down from 36,000 applicants. People signing up for the service must prove they are legally single and pass an online interview, among other requirements. Users register their preferences and preferred criteria and the AI presents compatible results. Government data indicates 760 couples are in “serious relationships.”
The Tokyo Enmusubi matchmaking app was developed after a survey found that about 70% of people interested in marriage were not actively engaged in searching for a partner. The AI app connects potentially compatible partners in a three-stage process that allows participants to exit the connection if desired while still retaining their anonymity. Participants say they trust the government-run dating app more than they would one run by a private company. “After all, it’s an app run by the city, so it felt more reliable,” said one now-married couple interviewed by Japan Forward.
Still, anyone thinking or hoping that AI would simplify romance may be in for a surprise. The use of AI tools like ChatGPT by potential partners is considered a red flag in some quarters, reports The Guardian. Relying on AI for emotional or romantic decision-making is viewed as a troubling sign of emotional laziness and indicative of a love life that runs on algorithms. A Brigham Young University study last spring found that young people’s often-secretive use of realistic AI companions reflects AI’s growing role in matters of the heart. “AI ick” is a term gaining traction that’s used to describe any role by the technology in the emotional lives of humans.
At the same time, AI is also being used to perform image checks, conversation dissections, and background verification for potential suitors, especially those encountered on online dating apps. Romance has never been easy, but AI appears to be adding another complicating factor. Does AI agree? Google’s AI says yes.