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AI Reality Check In Online Dating

Posted by timothy on from the alright-cherub dept.

mikejuk writes "Researchers have developed an online dating system that not only matches you with partners you'll find attractive, but who are also likely to find you attractive too. The researchers at the University of Iowa have addressed an underlying problem of online dating sites. There's no doubt that such sites are ever increasing in popularity, and have good algorithms taking into account the reported likes, interests and hobbies of the person looking for a partner to come up with a potential match. What's less well catered for is the trickier aspect of the reciprocal interest – you may think person x looks nice, but will they find you equally attractive? The problem here is that if you are Average Joe and try asking out Supermodels Ann, Barbara and Cheryl, you're unlikely to get a reply. Well, not a printable one, anyway. So coming up with yet another supermodel for you to sob over isn't a lot of help.Instead, the researchers add a note of reality by analyzing the replies you get, and use this to work out how attractive you are. This is a scary thought for many of us, and one we may well not want an honest answer to. The results are used to recommend people who might actually reply if you get in contact with them. Fortunately for the attractively challenged, the research is still just that – research. However, given the fact the online dating market is worth around $3 billion a year, chances are someone is going to make use of this. We have been warned."

5 of 192 comments (clear)

  1. Right matches for Slashdotter by qbast · · Score: 5, Funny

    We analysed 137463434 online profiles and found these most suitable* matches for you:
    1) your right hand
    2) a goat
    3) bigboobs.jpg

    Do you wish to send a message?

    *) actually the only ones that won't laugh hysterically at mere thought of dating you

    1. Re:Right matches for Slashdotter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      I am left-handed, you insensitive clod!

    2. Re:Right matches for Slashdotter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      The final result was a threesome between the hand, the goat, and the .jpg. The Slashdotter wasn't invited, thus stayed at home posting AC trolls with his remaining hand.

  2. wait by avivgr · · Score: 5, Insightful

    i wonder if the algorithm is smart enough to offset male attractiveness based on bank account balance

  3. Obligatory by mib · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Read, be enlightened. Why you should never pay for online dating, a blog entry from the founder of OKCupid (via the wayback machine since it was pulled when they got bought out by for-pay dating site match.com):

    http://web.archive.org/web/20101006104124/http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/why-you-should-never-pay-for-online-dating/