It is a really interesting subject. It does feel kind of like a race to the bottom, but can’t blame people for seizing whatever advantage they can, especially if others are going to do it anyway. I feel the same way about FaceApp honestly, I think we'd be better off without it but I still use it on tinder photos. At least with FaceApp there is a hard limit to what you can do because you have to look like you do in your photos when you meet the girl.
I can see this going one of a few ways:
1. Generative AI doesn’t have too much of an effect on dating because either it doesn’t get good enough and/or dating apps are able to combat it. I understand the technology is advancing but so far everything I’ve seen looks fake and unnatural. OP may have experienced some selection bias in the girls he was meeting, as all of the ones who thought something looked off about his profile swiped left. One match a day is not exactly a phenomenal result. It’s still very easy to see which pictures are false once you know what to look for- and it’s conceivable that software may be able to detect AI generated photos even as they become more and more visually indistinguishable. ESPECIALLY if programs are required to start moderating or digitally watermarking their own AI generated images, which there have been calls for already as fake media becomes a concern.
2. It becomes so good and widespread that it does indeed cause a race to the bottom and causes women to opt out of online dating as 75% of guys have fake profiles.
3. Most likely, in my opinion: This will make online dating even more hyper-focused on looks above all else, once lifestyle, money, and social proof can all be easily faked. Your physical appearance, on the other hand, can only be exaggerated so far. You still have to be the guy in your photo when you meet in person or facetime. Apps can also require in-app video verification. I think we’ve already maxxed out what programs such as FaceApp can do for online dating – all of they top guys are already using filters as much as they can get away with it without blatant catfishing. It’s interesting because online dating seems to have been moving in this direction since its inception, where once upon a time just looking like a cool normal guy with friends was enough to get you laid but now there’s this general consensus that you have to look like a total Chad to get great results from online. I think generative AI would just supercharge this process as literally everything else is fake.
Regarding the whole morality debate I resonate with pancake mouse but it’s also true that dating is an arms race and “all is fair in love and war”. I have this picture that I like to look at sometimes because it reminds me that nature/reality doesn’t care about my concepts of niceness and fairness. The lion is playing to win by whatever means necessary, and if some other lion decides to take the high road and leave the poor baby wounded wildebeest alone then he will lose his life and his whole pride to the winner.
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