World Network Global Survey Reveals AI’s Growing Role in Online Romance

More than 1 in 4 respondents admit to flirting with chatbots; majority seek human verification in dating apps

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ahead of Valentine’s Day, a groundbreaking survey conducted by World reveals how AI is reshaping modern romance. Taken by more than 90,000 people across World Network, this was the largest such human-only online survey of its kind. The findings highlight AI’s growing influence on digital love while also exposing a rising demand for authenticity in online relationships.

Record-Breaking Survey: Flirting with Bots, Fake Matches and More

• Flirting with chatbots: More than a quarter of respondents (26%) admitted to flirting with a chatbot or AI, either for fun or unknowingly.
• Suspicion of fake matches: 60% of participants have either suspected or discovered that someone they matched with was a bot or AI.
• Phishing and bot interactions: 21% of respondents say they’ve experienced phishing attempts, 10% say they’ve interacted with bots and 15% say they’ve encountered both phishing and bots.
• Desire for human verification: A significant 90% of respondents indicated they would prefer dating apps to include a verification system to confirm that users are real humans.
• Lack of confidence in user verification: Two-thirds of respondents (66%) believe dating apps don’t take adequate measures to verify real humans.
• Concern about bots and fake profiles: 61% of respondents say they’re concerned about encountering bots or fake profiles on dating apps.

“It’s no secret that, for many singles, dating apps such as Bumble, Hinge and Tinder are the default place to look for love. Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to know whether your match is, indeed, a real human,” said Tiago Sada, Chief Product Officer at Tools for Humanity, a contributor to World. “With catfishing and unwanted bot interactions on dating apps gaining prevalence, we need tools that take away the guesswork, so people can keep matching, dating and finding love without worry or deception.”

"The challenge with bots and artificial intelligence is not just technical; it’s something deeper. It affects our emotional well-being,” said Mariana Kerz, a licensed couple’s therapist in Buenos Aires, Argentina. “Discovering that the person you thought you were talking to isn’t real can shatter any illusion and projection, leading to sadness and even more severe mental health issues, such as depression."

World Network’s Technology and Expansion

Comprised of more than 23 million people – including 11 million verified humans – World Network offers proof of human tools like World ID, and Deep Face (announced in October), to empower individuals to anonymously engage online with various apps and services as unique individuals, enabling bot-free social networks, dating apps and more. Proof of human verification services are available in 20 countries and expanding, most recently becoming available in Indonesia.

About World

World Network aims to be the world’s largest and most inclusive financial public utility and identity system, accessible to all. World was originally conceived by Sam Altman, Alex Blania, and Max Novendstern. World protocol is designed to empower individuals and organizations worldwide with the necessary tools to participate in the digital economy and advance human progress. Learn more about World at www.world.org, on X, Discord, and YouTube.