Chabad, the Jewish outreach organisation, is pairing artificial intelligence with traditional human matchmaking in an effort to help singles find lasting relationships, arguing that AI should support rather than replace the personal touch. The move comes as growing distrust of AI-generated profiles and messages on conventional dating apps leaves users unsure whether they are interacting with a genuine person, prompting Chabad to position its Met@Chabad platform as an alternative built on vetted, human-verified connections.

On 9 August, the group is holding what it hopes will be the world's largest Jewish virtual speed-dating event, bringing together around 13,000 singles from more than 30 countries, timed shortly after the Jewish holiday of Tu B'Av, traditionally linked to love and matchmaking. Every participant is vetted by a local rabbi or rebbetzin before AI helps arrange five rounds of one-on-one video dates, with Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky of Merkos 302 stressing that the technology is meant to complement, not replace, human oversight in the matchmaking process.