As artificial intelligence reshapes online interactions and raises new risks of deception, global dating app Happn is working to ensure technology supports human connection rather than replaces it, chief executive Karina Ben Abdelmalek told ET. AI will play a growing role in dating but must remain in the background, Abdelmalek said. “AI can coach and help in the background, but it should never sit between two people. Real feelings and genuine connection cannot be replaced,” she said.
Industry data show that 51% of Indians know someone who has been approached by an AI chatbot posing as a real person on a dating platform. The statistic reflects industry-wide trends and is not specific to Happn, Abdelmalek said, but added that the company is preparing to address that.
“AI will enhance the experience, but it also brings risks such as fake content and synthetic profiles,” she said. “We want to anticipate that and prevent our users from being matched with AI profiles.”
Happn has introduced what it calls an industry-first AI-specific reporting feature that allows users to flag suspected AI-generated profiles. The platform also uses machine learning models to detect suspicious behaviour, analyse images and identify scam patterns, supported by a 24-hour human moderation team.
“Safety is not a premium feature,” Abdelmalek said. “It is our responsibility from the moment a user registers until they go back to real life dates.”
India has become central to Happn’s global strategy. Founded in France, the privately held company operates worldwide and has more than 180 million registered users, over 45 million of whom are in India.
“We call India our laboratory country,” Abdelmalek said. “Indian singles are curious. They test features quickly and adopt new experiences very fast.”
India is also among Happn’s fastest-growing markets and has delivered 16% revenue growth as of December 2025, reflecting increasing adoption of paid features. While traditional matchmaking remains common, Abdelmalek said dating apps are steadily becoming part of everyday life, especially among younger users and women seeking more independence in choosing partners.
Happn has expanded its presence from 10 to 20 cities in India and increased marketing investments. The company recently partnered with the recent Bollywood film ‘Do Deewane Sehar Mein’, running in-app promotions and contests where users can win movie tickets. These moves reflect a broader push to embed the platform more firmly into Indian cultural moments rather than operate at the margins of them.
“Typically, in this kind of operation, we see a pickup in users,” she said, adding that festive periods such as Diwali also drive spikes in activity.
Unlike some competitors exploring invite-only models, Happn plans to remain open and accessible. “The DNA of Happn is to make dating open to everyone,” Abdelmalek said.
The company is building AI features that help users discover matches through shared hobbies, daily routines and common places, alongside its geolocation-based matching.
For Abdelmalek, the future of dating will depend on striking the right balance between innovation and authenticity. “Technology should enhance human relationships,” she said. “But we must keep humans at the centre of the experience.”
Industry data show that 51% of Indians know someone who has been approached by an AI chatbot posing as a real person on a dating platform. The statistic reflects industry-wide trends and is not specific to Happn, Abdelmalek said, but added that the company is preparing to address that.
“AI will enhance the experience, but it also brings risks such as fake content and synthetic profiles,” she said. “We want to anticipate that and prevent our users from being matched with AI profiles.”
Happn has introduced what it calls an industry-first AI-specific reporting feature that allows users to flag suspected AI-generated profiles. The platform also uses machine learning models to detect suspicious behaviour, analyse images and identify scam patterns, supported by a 24-hour human moderation team.
“Safety is not a premium feature,” Abdelmalek said. “It is our responsibility from the moment a user registers until they go back to real life dates.”
India has become central to Happn’s global strategy. Founded in France, the privately held company operates worldwide and has more than 180 million registered users, over 45 million of whom are in India.
“We call India our laboratory country,” Abdelmalek said. “Indian singles are curious. They test features quickly and adopt new experiences very fast.”
India is also among Happn’s fastest-growing markets and has delivered 16% revenue growth as of December 2025, reflecting increasing adoption of paid features. While traditional matchmaking remains common, Abdelmalek said dating apps are steadily becoming part of everyday life, especially among younger users and women seeking more independence in choosing partners.
Happn has expanded its presence from 10 to 20 cities in India and increased marketing investments. The company recently partnered with the recent Bollywood film ‘Do Deewane Sehar Mein’, running in-app promotions and contests where users can win movie tickets. These moves reflect a broader push to embed the platform more firmly into Indian cultural moments rather than operate at the margins of them.
“Typically, in this kind of operation, we see a pickup in users,” she said, adding that festive periods such as Diwali also drive spikes in activity.
Unlike some competitors exploring invite-only models, Happn plans to remain open and accessible. “The DNA of Happn is to make dating open to everyone,” Abdelmalek said.
The company is building AI features that help users discover matches through shared hobbies, daily routines and common places, alongside its geolocation-based matching.
For Abdelmalek, the future of dating will depend on striking the right balance between innovation and authenticity. “Technology should enhance human relationships,” she said. “But we must keep humans at the centre of the experience.”