Tinder is turning to artificial intelligence in hopes of breathing new life into its dating platform, which has now seen a drop in paying subscribers for nine consecutive quarters, according to this year’s third quarter data. On Tuesday’s earnings call, Match Group, the company behind Tinder, informed investors that it is piloting a feature named Chemistry. This tool will get to know users by asking them questions and, with their consent, will analyze photos from their Camera Roll to better understand their interests and personalities.
This new feature is currently being tested in Australia and New Zealand, and will become a “key component of Tinder’s product experience in 2026,” according to Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff.
Match is not the only company seeking access to users’ private photo libraries. Last month, Meta introduced a feature that requests permission to use its AI on photos stored on your device—even those you haven’t shared yet—to offer AI-powered editing suggestions.
For users, however, the advantages of granting this broader access appear to be minimal in both scenarios.
Match claims that by using AI to ask interactive questions and analyze user data, it can better understand individuals and suggest more compatible matches. For example, if your Camera Roll contains images of you hiking or rock climbing, the app might pair you with others who enjoy similar outdoor activities.
As Match continues to experiment with new features on Tinder, its financial performance is feeling the strain.
The company stated that its fourth-quarter forecast factors in a $14 million decrease in Tinder’s direct revenue due to ongoing product trials. Combined with other industry trends, this has lowered Match’s Q4 revenue outlook to between $865 million and $875 million, falling short of analysts’ projections of $884.2 million.
Match is also leveraging AI in other ways, such as a large language model-powered system on Tinder that prompts users with “Are you sure?” before they send messages that could be considered offensive. AI is also used to help users select their most appealing photos.
Beyond AI, Tinder is introducing additional features to increase subscriptions and user activity. These include new dating “modes,” options for double dates, facial recognition for verification, and updated profiles that display bio details on the first photo card and integrate prompts within the photo carousel.
Even with these updates, Tinder is up against a challenging environment. Some younger users are shifting away from online dating in favor of in-person connections, while U.S. online daters may be cutting back on spending as their disposable income declines amid economic uncertainty.
In the third quarter, Match reported that Tinder’s revenue dropped by 3% compared to the previous year, with a 7% reduction in paying members.
Overall, Match’s financial results were close to expectations, with revenue rising 2% to $914.2 million, just shy of the anticipated $915 million, and earnings per share at 62 cents (net income of $160.8 million), compared to the expected 63 cents.
