My Misadventure in Phone Dating - AI Really Failed

 

After Karen passed away in 2021, I didn't want to think about dating again for at least a year.  Since then, I have dabbled in looking for a female friend.   I always thought that it would be nice to have a female friend, but it was not essential.. Recently, my Facebook feed has presented me with several dating apps for older singles.  I discussed one misadventure in a journal entry in May.

I will change all names here.

I found a website called Ophelia Connects. The service looks for someone close in age and interests—someone also looking for good conversation.  I decided to sign up since the introduction is free and payment is not required unless the two parties agree to extend the connection.

All text messages and phone calls from this service were generated by AI.  I was given instructions to be on my phone at 6 PM on Saturday.  That is a bad time since I am usually preparing dinner or eating.  I spoke to Jane, who lives close to me, for 10 minutes.  It is very hard to determine compatibility in a short phone call, but we found out:

• She is Catholic, while I am Jewish.  A difference in religion is an incompatibility
• She is divorced, while I am widowed.  I think a widowed-widower combination is more likely to be a match

We amicably decided not to pursue a connection.  This is fair game.

I then got a phone call from an AI-generated voice called Ophelia.  I said it didn't work out, but she would try again for someone else.

She arranged another phone date for Tuesday at 6 PM.  I had to reschedule my dinner.  I got on the phone and heard from Jane again.  AI did not work.  I was laughing at technology's failure.  I mentioned to the voice that 6 PM was a bad time.

Ophelia arranged a third phone date for Thursday at 7 PM.  For the third time, it was Jane.  I laughed really hard.

Is this any way to run a business?  The match was made only on proximity.

This qualifies for an Oy Vey.  I have been frustrated in my attempts to resume dating.