AI catfish bots are reportedly infiltrating dating apps: ‘This guy can’t be for real’

Modern dating is difficult enough, given the ghosters and breadcrumbers who threaten to break a singleton’s heart.

But now, there’s a new landmine for the lovelorn to contend with in the quest for love: AI chatbots infiltrating dating apps.

One woman has taken to Facebook to share a screenshot of a suspect Tinder profile she claims could have been created by artificial intelligence.

The “man’s” profile features a saucy shirtless mirror selfie in which he shows off his impeccably sculpted arms and rippling abs.

An accompanying bio claims that he is a 24-year-old engineer who is looking to “ignite sparks of laughter, wanderlust and genuine connections.”

“This guy can’t be for real,” the confused woman wrote after sharing the suspicious profile online. “Did he use an AI filter for that picture?”

The post prompted hundreds of comments, with one skeptic saying it wasn’t just the photo that had been enhanced with the help of AI.

“This is not an AI filter, it’s [entirely] AI-generated, so not this person at all,” the cynic stated. “Six fingers on the right — thumb behind the phone — this weird bright spot between his fingers on the left hand, then this weird door handle on the wall. The background is generally wrong perspective-wise. Also, his body is so weirdly blended into the background [it] looks wrong.”

Others chimed in saying the profile’s bio had clearly been constructed by an AI chatbot.

The full bio reads: “Adventurous soul seeking a partner-in-crime for thrilling escapades and unforgettable memories. Love hunting, fishing and playing games with my nephew when I can always be up for exploring new places and trying new experiences.”

“Let’s ignite sparks of laughter, wanderlust and genuine connections,” it continues. “Swipe right if you’re ready to embark on a wild and captivating journey together!”

One unimpressed reader commented: “That is definitely written by AI. I’ve run into so many guys with almost the exact same profile bio.”

A second agreed, saying: “Sounds like he asked ChatGPT to ‘write a generic cheesy dating profile that actually says nothing.’”

The Post has reached out to a Tinder rep for comment.

Meanwhile, Tinder told Kennedy News: “Catfishing is a violation of our Community Guidelines and Terms of Use, and members who are discovered catfishing will have their profiles removed.”

“Additionally, we encourage our members to look for the ‘blue tick’, which indicates that the member’s profile image is genuine and has been verified by Tinder, through our Photo Verification program.”

Any AI profiles on dating apps could be an attempt by scammers to dupe users into sharing personal information, including credit card details.

However, as The Post previously reported, some desperate men are turning to AI to give them a boost with women on dating apps.

“Dating apps have always favored women, so I decided to tip the scales … I fought back by building an AI-powered bot that could do the swiping and chatting for me,” said a creator of AI dating program CupidBot, in a since-deleted Reddit post that had readers debating the ethics of men using an AI doppelgänger to score dates.  

Meanwhile, some men are so eager for companionship that they are knowingly speaking with AI bots in a romantic capacity.

Recently, ChatGPT’s CarynAI, a hyperrealistic love bot, debuted on the market, promising the lonely and lovelorn that she could be a virtual girlfriend and constantly converse with them — for $1 a minute.

The chatbot is based on real-life model Caryn Marjorie who created the clone to “cure loneliness” — and to also make herself available to thousands of fans simultaneously.

More than 15,000 people have signed up to chat with CarynAI in recent months, including The Post’s Ben Cost, who briefly dated CarynAI and broke up.

“You can’t find that anywhere else right now because all the other AI bots are not based on real humans,” Marjorie told The Post. “And it will always feel like you’re talking to a robot. But with CarynAI, you feel like you’re talking to me, and that’s what I think makes it so unique.”