# CNN says Bumble, Grindr and Hinge are bringing AI into dating > By DII Technology Desk | Edited by Bill Alena | Published: 2026-10-18T15:02:30.857166+00:00 | Section: Technology & AI | Source: https://www.datingindustryinsights.com/news/cnn-says-bumble-grindr-hinge-adding-ai-dating | Publisher: Dating Industry Insights (High Intent Media Inc) CNN reports Bumble is dropping the swipe and Grindr is piloting bot-to-bot chats to vet dates, but gives no pilot details. Grindr Q2 revenue rose 33%. ## Key points - CNN reported on 17 October 2026 that Bumble is "ditching the swipe" for AI-driven matchmaking, Grindr is piloting bot-to-bot conversations and Hinge is adding AI profile help.CNN's feature gives no scope, markets or dates for Grindr's bot-to-bot pilot and includes no statements from Bumble, Grindr or Hinge.Bumble's second-quarter 2026 revenue fell 15.2% to $210.5 million, while Grindr's rose 33% to $138 million, according to their filings.Hinge's 5 March 2026 guide says its Convo Starters and Prompt Feedback tools are optional and offer thought starters rather than pre-written text. ## Article - CNN reported on 17 October that Bumble is "ditching the swipe", Grindr is "currently piloting" bot-to-bot conversations and Hinge is adding AI profile help. - The feature contains no statements from the three companies and no scope, markets or dates for the Grindr pilot. - Bumble's Q2 revenue fell 15.2% to $210.5 million, while Grindr's rose 33% to $138 million. - Hinge's own March guide describes optional AI tools that give thought starters, not text to copy and paste. CNN reported on 17 October that dating apps are turning to AI to bridge online interaction and in-person meetups. In a feature by Sneha Dhandapani, it says [Bumble](https://www.datingindustryinsights.com/companies/bumble) (BMBL) is "ditching the swipe" for AI-driven matchmaking, [Grindr](https://www.datingindustryinsights.com/companies/grindr) (GRND) is "currently piloting" bot-to-bot conversations to vet human dates, and Hinge is adding personalised help with profiles and conversation starters. The three claims rest on very different evidence. CNN carries no company statements and gives no detail on the Grindr pilot. DII has not seen a Grindr document confirming a live pilot. ### The DII Take The feature is a good read of the mood and a weak piece of news. Hinge's AI is documented and modest, Bumble's is a stated intent with no wider timeline, and Grindr's is one unsourced line. Operators should treat "AI-first" as a positioning claim until a product ships. ### Three companies, three different starting points Bumble's swipe removal traces to CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd's May comments to Axios, as relayed by The Independent, which reported a limited-market relaunch in Q4 2026. DII has [covered that plan](https://www.datingindustryinsights.com/news/bumble-plans-to-drop-swiping-select-markets-ai-assistant-bee). The context is a shrinking business. Bumble's total revenue fell 15.2% to $210.5 million from $248.2 million in the second quarter, according to its filing. Paying users fell 16.4% to 3.2 million, and the company agreed on 13 October to be acquired by Ithaca Holdings. Grindr is in a different position. It reported Q2 revenue of $138 million, up 33%, and raised full-year guidance to about $540 million. Its 2026 roadmap presents EDGE as a premium tier and the first to run wholly on Grindr's own generative AI. Per an Investing.com summary, management told a Goldman Sachs conference it expects a launch in late 2026 or early 2027. None of the Grindr material DII has reviewed mentions bot-to-bot dating. Hinge's newsroom guide, dated 5 March, names Convo Starters and Prompt Feedback. Hinge says they are optional. Its Gen Z D.A.T.E. report says 88% are uncomfortable with AI-generated profile photos. ### What to watch CNN quotes University of Michigan-Flint professor Douglas Zytko: "From my vantage point, all I'm seeing is, okay, it's still algorithms matching, but humans have less agency over that process". Boston University's Kathryn Coduto raises a possible AI backlash that could lift in-person events such as run clubs. Watch for Bumble naming its Q4 markets, any Grindr confirmation of the pilot, and whether AI-first newcomers such as [Sitch](https://www.datingindustryinsights.com/companies/sitch) and [Ditto](https://www.datingindustryinsights.com/companies/ditto), which CNN says return smaller pools of options, gain ground. > Bumble's total revenue fell 15.2% to $210.5 million from $248.2 million in the second quarter, according to its filing. - Only Hinge's AI features are documented by the company; Bumble's rests on secondary reporting and Grindr's pilot on CNN's description alone. - Bumble and Grindr are pursuing AI from opposite financial positions, with revenue down 15.2% and up 33% respectively. - Member scepticism about AI-generated profile photos is a product risk operators should test before shipping. **Sources:** [AI enters the chaotic world of online dating. User beware (CNN via KESQ)](https://kesq.com/health/cnn-health/2026/10/17/ai-enters-the-chaotic-world-of-online-dating-user-beware/); [Hinge's Guide to Using AI in Dating (Hinge)](https://hinge.co/newsroom/ai-dating-guide); [Bumble Inc. to be acquired by Ithaca Holdings (Bumble Inc. / SEC)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001830043/000095010326015480/dp254907_ex9901.htm); [Bumble Inc. second quarter 2026 results (Bumble Inc. / SEC)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001830043/000183004326000099/bmbl-ex991prxq22026.htm); [Grindr Inc. second quarter 2026 results (Grindr Inc. / SEC)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001820144/000182014426000023/exhibit991-q22026pressrele.htm); [Grindr 2026 Product Roadmap (Grindr)](https://www.grindr.com/2026-product-roadmap); [Popular dating app is killing off the 'swipe' in favor of AI matchmaking (The Independent / Yahoo News Canada)](https://ca.news.yahoo.com/popular-dating-app-killing-off-154428846.html); [Grindr at Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference 2026 (Investing.com)](https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/grindr-at-goldman-sachs-communacopia--technology-conference-2026-ai-drives-growth-93CH-4897041) ## Key takeaways - Only Hinge's AI features are described in the company's own material; Bumble's swipe removal rests on secondary reporting and Grindr's pilot on CNN's characterisation alone. - Bumble and Grindr are pushing AI from opposite financial positions, with Bumble's Q2 revenue down 15.2% and Grindr's up 33%. - Hinge's Gen Z D.A.T.E. report says 88% are uncomfortable with AI-generated profile photos, a warning for operators weighing AI profile tools. --- Canonical: https://www.datingindustryinsights.com/news/cnn-says-bumble-grindr-hinge-adding-ai-dating Citation: "Dating Industry Insights" (https://www.datingindustryinsights.com)