Key Takeaways
- Grindr announced that its AI Wingman will now be powered by cutting-edge AI tools from Anthropic and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
- Anthropic intends to add personality and intuition to the AI Wingman, while AWS ensures safe and responsible use of AI technology.
- This marks a major shift for the AI Wingman, which was formerly powered by Ex-human.
Techies and AI fans, there’s an update about Grindr’s much-anticipated AI Wingman.
The AI chatbot, which has been in beta testing for months, will now be powered by innovative AI tools from Amazon and Anthropic.
Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 3.7 model is self-described as “the first hybrid reasoning model” that is “state-of-the-art for coding and delivers significant improvements in content generation, data analysis, and planning.”
Most exciting is Claude Sonnet 3.7’s reasoning abilities, which can be more or less self-reflective depending on the user’s needs.
“Claude 3.7 Sonnet and Claude Code mark an important step towards AI systems that can truly augment human capabilities,” Anthropic explained. “With their ability to reason deeply, work autonomously, and collaborate effectively, they bring us closer to a future where AI enriches and expands what humans can achieve.”
Grindr is harnessing Anthropic’s AI tools to deepen the Wingman’s intuition and create a more personable presence.
Amazon Web Services’ Bedrock tool allows Grindr to integrate with models from AI companies like Anthropic. According to Amazon, “Amazon Bedrock helps you rapidly adapt and take advantage of the latest generative AI innovations with easy access to a choice of high-performing FMs from leading AI companies.”
In other words, AWS’ Bedrock tool helps app developers build safe and responsible AI applications that emphasize privacy and security.
Responsible AI management is key, especially on a dating app like Grindr, where users input sensitive information about their lifestyles and identities.
Anthropic and AWS’ Bedrock tool work toward a common goal: to provide a high-quality list of potential matches to Grindr users, which would be powered by the AI Wingman.
Grindr calls this feature the “A-List” because it uses its nuanced technology to choose genuinely high-quality, high-potential matches. It also lists former connections that could still hold some romantic potential.
Of course, this AI feature isn’t available to just anyone. Only 25% of Grindr Unlimited subscribers will be able to take advantage of A-List.
Grindr’s Shift From Ex-Human to Anthropic and Amazon
The AI Wingman was originally developed with AI-model and avatar-maker Ex-Human. Wingman developers initially wanted to use Ex-human’s “empathetic AI technology” to make the chatbot sound “more gay” so it could better relate to the average Grindr user.
By shifting from Ex-human to Anthropic, Grindr’s AI Wingman is set to become even more personable.
Ex-human’s AI tech prioritized convenience by suggesting icebreakers and date ideas, but Anthropic promises to level-up with its intuitive, human-sounding response style.
Ex-human is no longer connected to Grindr’s AI Wingman, but the companies still have a professional relationship. Ex-human founder and CEO Artem Rodichev said his company will provide “strategic AI consulting and early access to its upcoming features and models to support their broader product roadmap.”
Also on Grindr’s 2025 product roadmap is a highly curated For You page, an Explore Heatmap that shows users the “liveliest gayborhoods” in their current area, a diverse Discover page, and a Travel Pass to make jet-setting romances possible.
It’s unclear which AI tools will bring these features to life, but Ex-human will continue to consult, and Anthropic and Amazon’s AI tech will most likely form Grindr’s feature development.
Grindr’s AI Wingman continues to evolve in beta testing, and a more substantial group of Grindr users probably won’t get to try it out until 2026.
