bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Yating Yang

Rapidly rising numbers of romance-seeking people across China and worldwide are making use of artificial intelligence (AI) love coaches as they struggle in the dating game.
According to a 2023 survey of just over 2,000 single young people, carried out by the China Youth Daily Social Survey Center, the three major dating difficulties young people face are having a fixed social circle, being indoors type, and a lack of social skills.
AI love coaches provide advice ranging from how to reply to messages to how to converse smoothly with dates.
A notable example is RIZZ.AI, which leads the field with 3.5 million downloads.
The Post takes a deep dive into the subject.

What you get
RIZZ.AI provides a simulated dating environment where users can practise their communication skills and build confidence minus the real-life risks and awkwardness.
Users can choose various dating scenarios on the app, as well as situations in different languages.
In a “trying food you don’t like” scenario you might find yourself at a vegan restaurant with a date named Kristin.
The app coaches you on how to engage effectively with Kristin, aiming to make a positive impression on her despite your differing food preferences.
Also, RIZZ.AI allows users to upload screenshots of their conversations to get suggestions for witty comebacks, offering real-time coaching on flirting and communication.
Priced at US$7 per week, RIZZ.AI’s user base has grown by 30 per cent each quarter.
Chinese market
Similar apps have also surged in popularity in China.
Hong Hong Simulator creates various scenarios where users navigate interactions aimed at appeasing and comforting an angry girlfriend.
In one, “you hung up on me”, a user who accidentally hangs up on his girlfriend while asleep has the opportunity to make amends.
The user can say: “I’ll set a special ringtone for your number so I won’t mistake it again.”
The system then awards a 100 per cent forgiveness rating, indicating that the user’s response was effective.

The easy-to-use features have sparked lively discussions on mainland social media.
One online observer said: “It is very interesting to know that a captivating soul costs only US$28 a month.”
While another jokingly asked: “Can someone ask the AI how to reply when a girl says, ‘Uh huh ’?”
However, some people have raised concerns: “Face-to-face communication can reveal everything.”
Another person asked: “What if the person you’re talking to is also using AI?”


China city offers ‘torturous exile routes’ to visitors to boost tourism, sparking debate

3 remarkable Chinese women whose journeys showcase strength, resilience in face of challenges

Disgust as China mother posts online photo of toddler son urinating over family meal

Shock as China boy grabs girl in lift, drags her away, is arrested then freed

Trending in China

‘AI love coach’: millions download apps to help with relationship, master sweet-talking art

Growing numbers of people in China and worldwide are downloading AI apps which help them navigate the dating game and relationships. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

AI love coach apps provide relationship scenarios minus real-life dangers. Photo: Shutterstock

The apps also offer solutions for faux pas people may have committed in an existing relationship. Photo: Shutterstock

Quirky world news: cat pain app, China robbers’ booze rethink, Japan ‘wage slave’ voyeurs

The Post gives a snapshot of some of the weird and wonderful stories in the news around Asia. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/YouTube/Weixin/Weibo

Developers in Japan have come up with an app that can detect pain in cats by their facial expressions. Photo: taiwanplus.com

Three members of the scared gang of robbers who have been detained by police in China. Photo: Chongqing police

The café in Japan has been criticised online for being “disrespectful” to commuters. Photo: QQ.com

China KOL who claims to be champion of working classes in videos exposed as ‘heartless boss’ in real life

An online influencer in China who plays the role of a worker’s champion in her videos has has been exposed as a heartless boss in real life. Photo: Shutterstock

The influencer plays a character who fights injustice and promotes equality. Photo: The Paper

The KOL’s company has admitted wrongdoing and says it will change its ways. Photo: ifeng.com

Why ‘ugly’ AI filter is taking China social media by storm, unmasking its rationale, mental health benefits it brings

An artificial intelligence filter is taking China’s social media by storm. The Post explains what lies behind the phenomenon. Photo: SCMP composite/Xiaohongshu

The filter turns normal into ugly but cute and psychologists say this can deliver mental health benefits. Photo: Weixin

Huge numbers of people on mainland social media are using the filter to embrace ugliness. Photo: Weixin

France study dream dies as China woman succumbs to malaria in Africa after fleeing abusive family to make money

A young woman from China who fled her abusive family to make money overseas so she could pay to study in France has died of malaria in Africa. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Weibo

Tragic Zhou dreamed of studying in France and was willing to work hard in Africa to pay for it. Photo: Weibo

Zhou had almost saved enough to make her Paris dreams come true when she was struck down with malaria. Photo: Shutterstock

Scientists uncover unique ‘zombie grave’ in Germany designed to hold person underground if woke from the dead

Researchers unearthed a distinctive “zombie grave” in Germany specifically intended to bury individuals below the ground in case they were to awaken from death. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Facebook

In ancient times, there existed a belief that the deceased would occasionally attempt to escape their graves. Photo: Facebook/Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte Halle

In a scene from the 1968 film “Night Of The Living Dead,” directed by George Romero, a group of undead beings, often referred to as ‘’zombie‘’, strolls through a dark field at night. Photo: Getty Images

News

People & Culture

Apps offer practice scenarios minus danger of real-life situations, most popular one secures 3.5 million downloads amid global surge for advice


Millions of love-seeking individuals in China and worldwide are downloading artificial intelligence love coaching apps to help them with their relationships.


Artificial intelligence

Dating

Provide background, definition and detail of a specific topic, helping the reader understand how something works or what has happened in the past.  (Eg. What is Nafta? US and Mexico are on the verge of revising trade deal.)


Explainer

Explainer | ‘AI love coach’: millions download apps to help with relationship, master sweet-talking art

Apps offer practice scenarios minus danger of real-life situations, most popular one secures 3.5 million downloads amid global surge for advice

What you get