Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd’s comment on the application using Artificial Intelligence (AI) “to help create a more healthy and equitable” dating experience has led the internet to conclude that it is literally the “plot of a 'Black Mirror' episode”. Before you wonder why, you must read what Whitney said while discussing the future of the online dating app during an interview in San Francisco.
“Our focus with AI is to help create more healthy and equitable relationships. And that also starts with yourself. How can we actually teach you how to date? How can we help you show up in a better way? For example, you could, in the near future, be talking to your AI dating concierge and you could share your insecurities. ‘I just came out of a breakup. I have commitment issues.’ And it could help you train yourself into a better way of thinking about yourself. And then, it could give you productive tips for communicating with other people,” Whitney said during the interview.
In fact, your “dating concierge could go and date for you,” Whitney said, as everybody present gasped in disbelief.
“If you want to get really out there, there is a world where your dating concierge could go and date for you with other dating concierge. No, truly. And then, you don’t have to talk to 600 people. It will scan all of San Francisco for you, and say, ‘These are the three people you really ought to meet’.”
Thus, several sections of the internet opined in unison that what Whitney said, is “literally a 'Black Mirror' episode. Like actually literally.” 'Black Mirror', created by Charlie Brooker, is a British anthology television series. Its episodes delve into a variety of genres, predominantly unfolding in near-future dystopian settings featuring speculative sci-fi technology.
“I think she took that one Black Mirror episode too literally. There's already an intimacy crisis, substituting actually meeting people with having your AI meet their AI will only make us more disconnected,” a comment reads.
Most others actually found Whitney’s comment rather “depressing”. Also: “This is a terrible idea of reducing human interactions even further in a world already devoid of meaningful human interactions.”
