Over the past year or so AI has become the main buzzword in technology. It can help us write letters and reports, control our smart homes, and even just be a friendly voice to talk with when you have some questions. But it’s now beginning to show its digital face in online dating services too, both to add some polish to someone’s profile or scam romantics out of their data and money. Here’s some essential tips on how to keep your heart and your data safe when using online dating in 2025.
How online dating is being changed by AI
While there are some real cybersecurity threats appearing in relation to AI in online dating, it should be made clear that people can use AI-tools in ways that are just helping them make their profiles as good as they can be to potential partners.
These uses can include having an AI look at what you write in your bio and suggesting ways it could be improved. Another popular method is people practicing flirting and pick-up lines with an AI-chatbot so they don’t feel so nervous when talking to a real person. There’s also been reports of some users seeking help when composing break-up texts so that they let the other person down easy. These are all perfectly acceptable ways for AI to be employed, as it’s just like asking a friend for a hand when you’re getting back into the dating world.
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What are the threats from AI when using online dating services?
Sadly, there are more nefarious uses of AI that are becoming a problem in the online dating world. We’ve all seen how AI can be used to quickly create profile descriptions or life-like images, and this is now something that’s happening when scammers want to create false identities for dating sites. Profile pictures can be AI-generated, along with an attractiveness that is designed to catch the eye. In the recent 2025 Norton Cyber Safety Insight Report , it was discovered that 1 in 4 people surveyed using online dating had been targeted by a scam, and scarily 53% couldn’t tell the difference between AI-generated images and real ones.
This is made worse by AI-chatbots that can hold conversations with people, fooling them into thinking that they are getting on well with someone who is interested in becoming a partner. This leads to users falling for common scams like catfishing where someone is duped into thinking they are talking a person, but the identity is fake. As the trust builds, they are then asked to share personal information (which can lead to identity theft) or money to help with the ‘person’ taking a trip to see them or help with a medical emergency (of course the funds are then stolen). There’s also the requesting of sexual pictures, with the promise it will be reciprocated, but instead they’re then used for sextortion scams.
The worst part is that the Norton report showed that around 1 in 4 respondents admitted that loneliness led them to make risky decisions when using online dating, which is something the scammers know only too well.
How to protect yourself against AI-scams when using online dating
It can be difficult to know if you’re dealing with an AI-agent or a real person online, but the experts at Norton advise using these techniques to protect yourself.
Ask for a recent picture – If you’re suspicious, then you can always request a recent photo of the person. If they’re evasive, then it might be an indicator that something could be wrong.
Check the profile image – People always use flattering images of themselves on profiles, but if it seems like a professional shoot or they look like a model, you can always do a search on the image to see if it’s a stock photo or one used in advertising.
Think about how the person is communicating – If conversations seem a little off, say the person isn’t directly answering your questions or things feel disjointed, then you could be chatting to a bot. If they ask for personal information or send links to other sites, be very careful as these are often ways that scams work by stealing data or installing malware on your system.
For more information on how to combat AI-powered attacks when using online dating and general online activities, visit the helpful Norton blog where experts provide up to date advice on the emerging threats and how to avoid them .
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Protect yourself with dedicated software
With so many sophisticated threats now appearing online, it can feel overwhelming to constantly be on your guard. That’s why we recommend fighting fire with fire by using dedicated security software with AI-tools to recognise scams and keep you safe.
An excellent option is the award-winning Norton 360 , which comes with a wide range of antivirus, malware and ransomware protections to stop hackers gaining access to your system or data. There’s dark web monitoring to ensure your information hasn’t been stolen, plus real-time threat detection to prevent problems before they happen. It also includes the new Genie Scam Protection which uses AI-technology to detect and outsmart complex scams, whether they’re online or through messages sent to your device.
You can pick up the Norton 360 Standard package (covering up to 3 devices) for £24.99 for the first year, which works out as only £2.08 per month.
For added security you should also consider Norton VPN Ultimate , which encrypts all your data when you’re online to stop hackers from spying on what you’re doing and the sites you visit. A subscription costs £29.99 for the first year and covers up to 5 devices.
Searching for love can be hard enough as it is, without the added complication of having to fight off unwanted threats from fake AI-accounts that are out to harm you. So, by using the tips outlined above, along with the software that’s purpose-built to help keep you safe, you can just concentrate on the ultimate task of finding someone with whom to share your life.
