Bumble is relaunching without swiping as dating app tests new AI matchmaker

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Bumble is planning a big update that will eliminate its traditional swiping feature. The dating app is using artificial intelligence to address the problem of users getting tired of the app.

In an interview with Axios, Bumble’s founder and CEO, Whitney Wolfe Herd, announced the app will be moving away from its traditional swiping feature. She described the upcoming change as a completely new and innovative approach to online dating.

Bumble plans to update its app later in 2026, starting with a few specific regions. The company hasn’t announced a firm date for when the swiping feature will be completely gone.

This change is significant for a leading dating app. For over ten years, swiping – choosing ‘like’ or ‘dislike’ by sliding on the screen – has been a core feature of dating apps, largely thanks to Tinder.

Bumble breaks up with swipe feature in favor of “revolutionary” AI system

According to the Bumble CEO, many users have grown tired of the system.

People are feeling burnt out and tired, and many believe dating apps have actually made their love lives worse, according to Herd.

Bumble is making big changes, and a key part of that is using artificial intelligence. They’re currently testing a new AI tool called Bee that gets to know users better and suggests more suitable dating partners.

So, we’re really concentrating on getting this better network up and running. Basically, later this year, we’re dropping a completely new Bumble experience built on a platform we’ve totally rebuilt, and it’s powered by AI! It’s going to be a huge upgrade, and I’m super excited to finally get my hands on it.

Bee, a dating app, learns about a person’s hobbies, what they’re looking for in a relationship, their lifestyle, how they communicate, and their dating preferences before recommending potential partners, according to InsideHook.

Bumble is developing a new AI tool called Dates to help people easily transition from connecting with someone on the app to actually meeting up in person, keeping the conversation flowing.

Bumble’s updated app will feature new profiles built like short stories, letting users share more about themselves in sections rather than just listing their name, age, photos, and a quick bio.

Herd’s aim is to help people be their true selves and get to know potential partners on a deeper level.

Bumble is also changing another key part of its app. While women will no longer always have to send the first message in heterosexual matches, Bumble still wants to encourage them to initiate conversations.

I heard Bumble tried something cool called “Opening Moves” where women can actually set a question or prompt for their matches to answer first. It’s a neat way to kick off a conversation, instead of just waiting for the guy to say something!

These updates are happening at a challenging time for dating apps, as many platforms are trying new things – like using artificial intelligence or adding different features – to adapt.

Grindr started experimenting with a premium subscription called “Edge” earlier in 2024. For $6,000 a year, it offers personalized match suggestions, compatibility insights before you start chatting, and a feature to easily revisit old conversations.

Tinder is now using eye scanning to verify its users are real people. They’ve partnered with World, a project created in part by Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, to implement this new system.

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2026-05-14 21:19