Tinder is a popular dating app that allows users to meet new people.
The platform works by showing users profiles of other users, and that they can swipe right if they're interested or swipe left if they're not. This is where things can be an issue. The problem stems from the fact that in order to get a date, chances are, people want to look good. As a result, users may spend more time to take a new photo to choose from an existing one, than actually using the app to find a date.
Here, Tinder is trying to end that long-festering nightmare, using a feature it calls the 'Photo Selector' feature.
What it does, is using AI to scan for users' photos, and pick the ones that are most likely to get that desired right swipe.
Tinder has been working on this feature since 2023, and that this time, it's finally ready for its prime time.
The Photo Selector feature selects photos from users' camera roll that might work as profile photos.
It works by automatically browsing through a users' entire camera roll and using AI algorithms, the idea is to pick the 'hottest' ones.
The selection is based on what the AI learned about what makes a good profile photo.
This includes proper lighting, composition, and more. The AI can also automatically filter out group photos, or photos that appear to violate its Terms of Use and Community.
After it's done working, the feature will provide users with what the AI thinks is the best and brightest glow ups.
Long story short, Photo Selector essentially lifts the burden of having to choose a photo manually.
But still, users have the final decision on which photos to upload.
"With Photo Selector, Tinder offers a digital companion that curates a diverse selection of photos from users’ camera roll optimized to help users find a match," the company wrote in a press release.
It's worth noting that the feature requires users to allow the Tinder app access to their photo gallery.
Without it, the feature cannot work.
It also requires access to users' biometric data, and this data is acquired from scanning users' photos or selfies, and then comparing those to the photos in users' camera roll.
In order to value users' privacy, Tinder said that it's only doing on-device AI processing
"Tinder doesn’t collect, store, access or otherwise receive any biometrics generated from your selfie video, profile photo, or photos on your camera roll. Instead, everything takes place entirely on your device, and all biometric data used as part of this feature is deleted from your device once you exit the feature," said Tinder.
"Tinder doesn’t collect or access any photos from your camera roll, and the process of scanning and suggesting certain photos happens entirely on your device. Tinder only collects the photos you ultimately choose to upload to your profile."