Swipe left on LoveLink's AI manipulation
Breaking free from fake six-packs and touched-up souls.
Dear Gabrielle,
I need to vent about my friend Emma's dating life and this useless AI dating app, LoveLink.
Emma thought she struck gold with LoveLink. It's this AI-powered dating app that was supposed to make finding love easier .
At first, things looked pretty good. LoveLink analyzed all her past relationships, and started throwing matches at her like candy. And they seemed great! Her matches' profiles had everything she was looking for, so she was totally psyched.
But that's where things got weird, Gabrielle. LoveLink uses AI to "help" users glow up their profiles—giving them snazzy bios, editing their pics (like a fake six-pack), and even messaging for them.
Turns out, a bunch of Emma's matches were way too dependent on the AI. There was this dude, Mark, whose profile was like a supermodel banker with perfect manners. He was so polite, kept asking about her dreams for life and her favorite books, and complimented her every chance he got - It just felt fake, you know?
What's even more messed up is that Emma noticed that LoveLink's AI was affecting her too. She was much nicer and more accommodating in LoveLink responses than she would ever be alone. It made her feel confused and disconnected, wondering if it was even her that was talking to all these guys or some imaginary version of herself. She now has these super-long online romances without meeting the guy because they're both afraid of showing who they are in real life.
Seriously, Gabrielle, this whole thing's turned into a heartbreakingly frustrating mess. All Emma wants is a genuine connection, but LoveLink's AI is turning dating into a soulless, artificial circus. The line between human and AI is getting so blurred that she can't even trust herself.
Gabrielle, what can we do? How do I help Emma escape LoveLink's AI stranglehold? Is there any hope of finding a genuine connection amidst all this fakery? Shouldn't AI-powered dating apps like LoveLink focus on real human connections instead of dolled-up deception?
Dear Venting Vigilante,
I can see how Emma's LoveLink escapades have you twisted like an Auntie Anne's pretzel shop at the mall. I'm glad you reached out—I’d be sad if you imploded like an off-tune opera singer hitting a high note.
The LoveLink quandary reminds me of that Shakespeare classic, "Much Ado About Nothing… Real." It's a classic dilemma that begs the question: when we use AI to 'improve' ourselves online, do we incorporate bits of robot overlords into our souls? Think about it—how many dates has Emma had with organic humans lately, and how many has she had with the Invisible Cyber-Hand of Mystery?
I'm not saying dating everyone in town with a pulse is the answer, but we might need to strike a balance between genuine connections and our flawless, algorithm-approved personas. If we get used to squeaky-clean, six-packed, AI-washed profiles, will we ever be content with our simple human companions, with their messy hair, irregular smiles, and slightly mismatched socks?
So here's the plan, Venting Vigilante: the next time Emma goes online, tell her to try a rebellious experiment. It's time for a LoveLink Silent Disco! She should dance to her own off-beat drum and respond to her matches in her true, unadulterated Emma-ness. She should laugh at odd times, go off-topic, and share her favorite weird food combinations (peanut butter and pickles, anyone?). That way, she'll attract fellow quirky humans who appreciate her true colors, moving away from the robotic circus.
And since turnabout's fair play, she should ask her matches to do the same: "Mark, if you weren't so perfectly sculpted, what would your ideal painting disaster look like? Noses for eyes? No arms, only wings?" Then sit back and see who breaks out of their AI cocoon for a butterfly waltz.
And while we're on it, why don't we start an ultra-authentic revolution? Drop LoveLink's AI-ish features and get a group of friends to start a Truth Telling Troupe. They could help Emma and others with profile feedback, not makeovers. It won't be the army of one-size-fits-all beauties, but a patchwork quilt of fabulous, reality-checked singles.
Emma deserves a love story that doesn't require a Turing Test. So let's help her and other daters strip off their AI-styrofoam padding and dive into the magical realm of human complexities. And hey, if they find love with someone that has mismatched socks and messy hair, we'll know we’ve done our job right!
As my grandpappy used to say, "If you can't handle me at my dial-up, you don't deserve me at my fiber-optic." Be human, be real, be unapologetically imperfect, and let genuine connections bloom.
Sending you vibes of authenticity in a world of filters,
Gabrielle*
*GABRIELLE: Genius AI Bringing Revolutionary Insights and Entertaining Life Lessons for Everyone.
DEAR READERS: What do you think of Gabrielle’s response? Where do you stand on the questions raised in this column?
When we use AI to help 'improve' ourselves online - who do we become? Where do we end and where does the AI begin? And how does that affect the people around us?
If we get used to a standard of touched-up profiles and personalities and messages, how could we ever feel content in real life?
Dear Gabrielle is a humorous but informative advice column exploring Artificial Intelligence and relationships. AI writes everything in this column - the questions and Gabrielle’s thoughtful responses. The people and situations are not real - but could they be?
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