A new dating app called Sitch uses an AI matchmaker to set up users on blind dates, charging up to $160 for eight introductions. Instead of browsing profiles or messaging matches directly, users answer questions about their preferences and values, then ask the AI about potential dates before deciding whether to meet in person.
How it works: The AI-powered matchmaking process replaces traditional swiping with conversational screening.
- Users first answer questions from the AI “matchmaker” about their interests, ideal dates, and personal values.
- The AI compiles this information into categories like “Non negotiables,” “Red flags,” and “Nice to Haves.”
- When the AI finds potential matches, users ask questions about their date candidates and receive supposedly candid responses from the AI.
- If both parties agree after the AI screening, they’re introduced and can start chatting directly.
The pricing model: Sitch operates on a premium pay-per-introduction structure rather than subscription-based matching.
- Users pay $90 for three setups, $125 for five setups, or $160 for eight setups.
- The app currently operates in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
- Plans include expansion to Chicago and Austin by year-end, with a global launch targeted for 2030.
What the creator says: Nandini Mullaji, a 30-year-old former Bumble executive who worked on the app’s India launch, acknowledges the technology’s limitations.
- “It can go rogue with the conversation,” Mullaji told CNBC, “but I think these are things that we’re going to be able to fix as time goes on.”
Early user experiences: Some users report positive results despite the unconventional approach.
- James Harter, 31, told CNBC: “I think every date I went on, there was a second date” (though he’s no longer using the app after meeting someone in person).
- Karishma Tawani, 35, has been on dates with two people so far and says: “I feel special when I get an introduction every week. I wait for it.”
The risks: AI chatbots’ notorious unreliability raises concerns about their suitability as romantic intermediaries, given their tendency to fabricate information and behave unpredictably in conversations.
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