An excellent episode of Black Mirror predicted a future where they simulated our dating lives to find us the perfect match. However, it is entirely plausible that we are currently data hamsters for some widely used data apps such as Bumble and Tinder.

Artificial Intelligence, at its core, is about probability and predictability. You need to have access to an extensive data set to start extrapolating “features” or data points to make predictions. When we look at dating apps, they have access to a wide range of data points on each user, starting with the basics of profile pictures and bios to direct questions that try to quantify a user’s personality.

Online dating is nothing new; what is new is the access to more data on an individual to the point that we can disseminate the traits of two individuals that result in a successful relationship. Previously, sites such as match.com boasted their statistics on how their matches lead to marriages. So what?

My theory is that modern dating apps quietly harvest publicly available marriage and divorce information to create a match-making algorithm that turns “love” into bits and bytes. Using this model, a user essentially is a lifelong contributor to the dataset for these apps.

Apps that can survive a generation of users will crack the code of human relationships. Having data points that dictate personalities that come together, result in successful marriages, and even have children. And all we had to do was say “I do” to their terms and conditions from day one.