Tinder adds IRL events, virtual speed dating and AI features

Tinder used its first product keynote to roll out a wide set of updates aimed at reinvigorating the app, improving safety and leaning harder into AI. The announcements follow Match Group’s $50 million boost for product development as the parent company tries to re-engage users and appeal to younger Gen Z daters.

A new Events tab will enter beta in Los Angeles in late May or early June, letting users discover curated local gatherings — from speakeasies and bowling to raves and pottery classes — where they can meet matches in person. Profiles of event attendees will appear in the app afterward for users to like and swipe through, a feature that echoes classic “Missed Connections” chances to reconnect.

Speed dating is back in a new form: Tinder is piloting three-minute video chats in Los Angeles as a quick “vibe check,” with the option to extend promising conversations and a requirement that profile photos be verified. The move follows earlier experiments such as the pandemic-era Face-to-Face feature, which was later discontinued.

tinder, match group, events tab, los angeles, irl events, speed dating, video chats, profile verification, gen z, ai features