A new AI-focused dating app called Overtone is stepping onto the scene with major backing from Match Group as Hinge CEO Justin McLeod prepares to leave his post and build the product full-time. Match, which owns Hinge, Tinder, and OkCupid, is funding Overtone at the pre-seed stage.
According to TechCrunch, the idea for Overtone was developed inside Hinge over the past year. McLeod and a dedicated team shaped it into “an early stage dating service focused on using AI and voice tools to help people connect in a more thoughtful and personal way.” The move reflects a broader shift across the industry as dating platforms search for fresh ways to engage users who are increasingly unimpressed with traditional swiping.
Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd is also exploring AI-driven matchmaking, saying she hopes to create “the world’s smartest and most emotionally intelligent matchmaker in existence.” She previously suggested that singles might one day use AI stand-ins to interact with each other.
The push comes at a moment of real pressure for legacy dating apps. Tinder has reported nine straight quarters of subscriber declines and is leaning heavily into AI features designed to increase matches. Hinge introduced “Convo Starters” this week to help users avoid stale small talk. Match CEO Spencer Rascoff has previewed Chemistry, a feature slated for 2026 that will analyze users’ camera rolls with permission.
As McLeod shifts into an advisory role through March, Hinge president and chief marketing officer Jackie Jantos will take over as CEO. She told TechCrunch that Gen Z wants transparency and authenticity from digital platforms and noted that Hinge’s AI recommendations have already driven a 15 percent jump in matches. Jantos said the company will continue pursuing “intentional innovation that is grounded in culture, creativity, and a deep understanding of how people connect today.”
