Welcome to the forefront of conversational AI as we explore the fascinating world of AI chatbots in our dedicated blog series. Discover the latest advancements, applications, and strategies that propel the evolution of chatbot technology. From enhancing customer interactions to streamlining business processes, these articles delve into the innovative ways artificial intelligence is shaping the landscape of automated conversational agents. Whether you’re a business owner, developer, or simply intrigued by the future of interactive technology, join us on this journey to unravel the transformative power and endless possibilities of AI chatbots.
Gen Z daters apparently want love but can’t start the conversation to get there, according to Hinge CEO Jackie Jantos. The dating app thinks a chatbot can teach them how.
Speaking to the BBC, Jantos said Gen Z users “absolutely want love” but lack the confidence to act on it. She points to the pandemic as the culprit, arguing it robbed young adults of the years when people typically learn how to flirt and socialize. The result: Gen Z now spends around 1,000 fewer hours a year with other people than those the same age did two decades ago, and nearly half of young adults in the UK report feeling lonely “often or always,” she adds.
Hinge has two AI tools aimed at the problem. One reviews your profile and suggests improvements. The other generates opening lines so you don’t have to think of one yourself. Jantos insists this is about building confidence, not outsourcing your personality. “It’s not about writing words for you,” she told the BBC, but “helping you express who you are.” Sure.
The pitch lands at a convenient moment for Hinge, as its audience grew from 1.4 million to 1.5 million over a year ending in May 2025, while Tinder’s declined from 1.9 million to 1.5 million in the same period. The two apps are now roughly neck and neck.
Researchers are less optimistic than Jantos about dating apps and AI boosting confidence. Dr. Carolina Bandinelli of the University of Warwick says the industry oversold itself from day one and is now “past the hype.” Matchmaker Siobhan Copland puts it more plainly: her Gen Z clients are burned out, bombarded, and increasingly opting for quality over quantity.
Teaching someone to flirt with AI training wheels is a bold strategy. Whether it works is a different question entirely.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 8 will reportedly ship with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 alongside an Exynos 2600 variant, ending the Exynos-only chip strategy Samsung introduced with last year’s Galaxy Z Flip 7.
A one-year Exynos experiment
Ad blockers have traditionally lived inside web browsers, quietly cleaning up websites while leaving the rest of your apps untouched. A new tool called Filtr now wants to change that by bringing system-wide ad and tracker blocking to Apple devices, potentially reshaping how users experience apps across iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
Filtr is being positioned as a privacy-focused utility capable of blocking advertising and tracking requests in almost every app installed on Apple devices. Built by the developer behind the Wipr ad blocker, the tool reportedly uses Apple’s newer URL Filtering framework introduced in recent operating system updates. Instead of relying on a traditional VPN tunnel to inspect traffic, Filtr works directly through Apple’s native filtering systems to identify and stop unwanted network requests before they load.
OnePlus may be planning one of its earliest flagship launches yet. A new leak from Digital Chat Station claims the OnePlus 16 could arrive in September. If accurate, that would place the phone in the same launch window typically dominated by Apple’s annual iPhone announcements, with the iPhone 18 series also expected around that time.
The rumored September date likely refers to a China launch rather than an immediate global rollout. Based on OnePlus’ recent release pattern, international markets such as India and Europe could see the device shortly afterward, potentially within the following month.
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