Harvard Data Science Review Podcast Summary

Episode Title: Can AI Enhance My Rizz?
Release Date: February 27, 2025

Introduction

In the milestone 50th episode of the Harvard Data Science Review Podcast, host Liberty Vittert and co-host Shali Meng delve into the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and modern dating. The episode, titled "Can AI Enhance My Rizz?", explores how AI tools and algorithms are reshaping the landscape of online dating, influencing how individuals meet, communicate, and form relationships. The discussion features Seong Kim, Head of AI and Machine Learning at the dating app Riz, and Katherine Caduto, a communication science researcher and author from Boston University.

Defining Riz: Sean Kim on AI as a Dating Assistant

Shali Meng initiates the conversation by inquiring about the term "Riz," a modern slang for charisma, and its application within the Riz app.

Sean Kim [01:52]:
"Riz is short for charisma, and so essentially, Riz is an AI dating assistant. It helps you send that first text or when you're stuck in a conversation... Riz is there to help you out and be like, okay, what can you possibly say. Let's just say you have a goal of, hey, I want to slide into this girl's DMs. She's in Rio de Janeiro. How do I have the best opener? So Riz is really there to be that wingman or wing woman and really just help you out."

Riz operates across various platforms, including Instagram, WhatsApp, and dating apps, providing users with tailored messaging support to enhance their online interactions.

Sean Kim [02:38]:
"On our end, Instagram actually is the biggest dating app... Riz is really there to help you out and allow you to have an opener whenever you need. Agnostic to the fact that you match on a platform."

Technological Foundations: AI and Computer Vision in Riz

Katherine Caduto shifts the focus to the technological underpinnings of Riz, probing into the AI models and data utilized.

Sean Kim [04:10]:
"We use OpenAI, Mistral, Grok, Llama, Deepseek, you name it. We test out all the state-of-the-art models... but the input is primarily visual. We rely a lot on computer vision models to understand the visual context of the screenshot that the user is sending in."

Riz integrates computer vision to analyze the context of user interactions across different platforms, ensuring that AI-generated responses are contextually relevant and personalized.

Sean Kim [06:22]:
"We have looking for a relationship, you're already in a relationship... All these user inputs are factored in to tailor the AI responses accordingly."

Impact of AI on Communication and Relationships

Katherine Caduto discusses her research on how AI influences the quality of conversations and relationships formed through dating apps.

Katherine Caduto [08:35]:
"Consumers are more aware of AI now... People are optimistic about AI when it helps them craft a thoughtful opening message, but concerns arise when AI takes over the conversation."

The conversation highlights gender differences in the reception of AI tools, with men showing higher optimism compared to women, who express greater concerns about authenticity and safety.

Shali Meng [10:12]:
"You have filters where, you know, what does the person actually look like, all that kind of stuff."

Katherine Caduto [11:39]:
"People use dating apps for a variety of relationship types... AI serves as another tool to manage self-impression, not to replace the human element."

Ensuring Authenticity and Managing Emotional Responses

The discussion moves toward the emotional implications of using AI in dating, questioning whether AI-generated messages affect authenticity and emotional depth.

Katherine Caduto [17:49]:
"AI is another tool into the toolbox for assessing authenticity... People look for clues of authenticity at many stages of the dating process."

Katherine Caduto [20:28]:
"AI is changing human interaction by generating emotional responses... Current research is exploring how these technologies affect human emotions and agency."

She emphasizes the balance between utilizing AI as a helper and maintaining human agency in conversations, ensuring that users retain control over their interactions.

Data Privacy and Safety Mechanisms

Addressing user concerns about privacy and safety, Sean Kim outlines Riz's data protection measures.

Sean Kim [24:00]:
"We don't permanently store your data and we don't ever directly read the conversations... All messages are encrypted and deleted from our database after a certain period."

Additionally, Riz employs safety guidelines to prevent misuse, such as detecting offensive language and banning problematic users.

Sean Kim [25:20]:
"We have safety guidelines... we detect offensive keywords and automatically ban users who generate harmful content."

Katherine Caduto [26:09]:
"Safety is a significant concern in online dating... Women, in particular, have higher concerns around the use of AI due to safety risks."

Future Frontiers: AI Matchmaking and Enhanced User Experience

Looking ahead, Sean Kim and Katherine Caduto discuss the next steps for AI in dating apps, emphasizing AI-driven matchmaking and personalized assistance.

Sean Kim [28:15]:
"AI matchmaking is a frontier... It’s challenging to create algorithms that satisfy users, but the potential to improve match quality is immense."

Katherine Caduto [30:18]:
"AI matchmaking can address dating app burnout and fatigue by providing more satisfying match experiences, making users more eager for improved algorithms."

They foresee AI not only improving the matching process but also offering empathetic assistance to users facing dating challenges.

Magic Wand Feature: Envisioning the Ideal Dating App

The episode concludes with a playful yet insightful "magic wand" question, inviting Sean Kim and Katherine Caduto to imagine their ideal dating app.

Sean Kim [31:36]:
"I would ensure that users are always visually attracted to their matches, guaranteeing a 99% rate of visual appeal to prevent discouragement."

Katherine Caduto [33:31]:
"I would create an app that strongly encourages users to meet in person within a set timeframe, like 72 hours after matching, to reduce burnout and enhance real connections."

Liberty Vittert [34:48]:
"Thank you for listening... This has been the Harvard Data Science Review. Everything Data Science and Data Science for everyone."

Concluding Remarks

The episode offers a comprehensive exploration of how AI is transforming the dating landscape, blending technological advancements with human relationship dynamics. Through expert insights and engaging discussions, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the benefits and challenges posed by AI in facilitating modern romance.

Notable Quotes:

• Sean Kim [01:52]:
  "Riz is really there to be that wingman or wing woman and really just help you out."

• Katherine Caduto [08:35]:
  "People are optimistic about AI when it helps them craft a thoughtful opening message, but concerns arise when AI takes over the conversation."

• Sean Kim [24:00]:
  "We don’t permanently store your data and we don’t ever directly read the conversations."

• Katherine Caduto [20:28]:
  "We're only now starting to understand how people manage the AI and what their emotional responses are to it."

For More Information:
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