Without using profile photos, Singapore-made bot matchmakes strangers
It is only when they meet for their first date that she knows what they look like.
She is among thousands who have been using amble, a Singapore-made bot that operates much like a virtual matchmaker.
Introduced as a bot on Telegram - as @ambleprojectbot - in April 2023, amble is now also available as an app.
On amble, users start out completely anonymous to each other, and do not have any idea what the other person looks like.
This is in stark contrast to popular dating apps like Tinder, Hinge and Bumble, where details like a person's appearance, height and occupation are often made visible.
For Mia, this has been a great pull.
She told The Straits Times that her previous experience using Bumble made her feel as though she was "a tomato on display" at a Sunday market.
With looks out of the equation on amble, Mia said she has been able to better determine her compatibility with her matches.
"(A person's appearance) just isn't that high on my list in comparison with values or personality," she said.
As the conversation between two users progresses, "milestones" are unlocked and more is revealed about the parties. This can include fun facts about them or a picture of them - the latter only if both users have chosen to share a photo.
Mia said she and her matches chose not to reveal what they look like, and instead went on "fun, blind meet-ups". She has gone on two such meet-ups and said they were both enjoyable.
As a conversation between two users progresses on amble, "milestones" are unlocked and more is revealed about the parties. PHOTO: AMBLE
'Not rushed, not transactional'
amble co-founder Alyssa Chua, 27, told ST she began experimenting with the idea of the bot in 2023 as she felt that conversations, particularly those on dating apps, were beginning to feel more fleeting than before.
"We swipe, we judge, we expect instant chemistry. If sparks don't fly in the first few seconds, we move on," she said.
"And yet, when we do find something real... it's because of a conversation that made us pause, think and see someone beyond the surface."
Ms Chua said she chose to name the bot "amble" to reflect how she felt a conversation should feel.
"Not rushed, not transactional, but like taking a walk in the park with someone, one step at a time," she said.
That sentiment has resonated with enough users for Ms Chua and fellow co-founder Cayden Gwee, 27, to decide to release an app version of the bot in April.
Ms Chua said there are now about 6,000 people using amble, both on Telegram and the app.
To help users find common ground, amble intermittently poses questions or prompts.
These can range from simple ones like whether they have unusual hobbies or talents to ones that provoke deeper thought such as: "Do you think there's any sort of scenario which makes it fair to reveal a secret?"
Mr Mac Healy, 27, who began using amble in 2024, told ST the "brainwork" needed to answer most questions has helped him strike up "pretty good" conversations and led to meaningful matches and dates.
This is in comparison to popular dating apps, where conversations are "the same... rinse-and-repeat", said the financial analyst.
"It's not like 'What's your favourite colour?' - I get sick hearing that every single time I enter a new talking phase... amble adds a good twist," he added.
Users can also filter the people they will be matched with based on their intention - whether they are looking for something romantic or platonic.
Users of amble can filter the people they will be matched with based on their intention - whether they are looking for something romantic or platonic. PHOTO: AMBLE
Ms Chua said users have found all kinds of connections through amble.
"Some have met romantic partners - we've received very cute photos - while others have discovered shared passions with like-minded hobbyists," she said.
But with the online dating scene increasingly filled with scammy profiles and bots generated by artificial intelligence (AI), how sure can users be that the person they are chatting with is real?
Ms Chua said that on Telegram, bots - like amble - are not allowed to engage with other bots, as part of the messaging app's security measure to prevent potential abuse.
On the amble app, every profile is verified through the user's e-mail and phone number. The phone numbers are then cross-checked against databases of fraudulent numbers to prevent abuse, added Ms Chua.
AI is also used on the app to assess users' answers to questions set out by amble during onboarding.
"Behind the scenes, we use AI to evaluate these responses by looking for indicators of intent, sincerity and alignment with the kind of meaningful conversations amble is built for," said Ms Chua.
"This helps us ensure that the people on the platform are real and genuinely here to connect."
App not the end for Telegram bot
Ms Chua said Telegram was chosen as the platform to first roll out amble as it gave the bot's creators the flexibility to test ideas, and without requiring users to download something that was new.
Mr Ryan, who wanted to be known by only one name, said he found it convenient that he did not have to download yet another app onto his phone.
"(It) definitely pulled me to using amble," said the 29-year-old commercial pilot, who has been using the bot since early 2025.
Ms Chua said Telegram also "felt like a natural place for real conversations to happen".
However, the messaging platform also limited what Ms Chua and Mr Gwee could do with amble.
For example, the bot is only able to let users speak to one match at a time. "With an app, we are able to introduce concurrent matches, letting people explore multiple connections at once," said Ms Chua.
While users can only experience a simple chat interface on Telegram, an app allows for custom interfaces that could stimulate more thoughtful conversations, and even introduce game-like elements to inspire more playful interactions.
The app, though, does not spell the end of the amble Telegram bot.
Noting that some users preferred the bot's simplicity on Telegram, Ms Chua said she is exploring ways to keep it as an option alongside the app.
"But moving forward, the app will be our focus - because it allows us to build amble the way we've always envisioned it, without compromises," said Ms Chua.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Bumble plunges as AI revamp strategy fails to woo investors amid falling paying users
Bumble shares slumped 17 per cent on Thursday after another quarter of declines in paying users raised questions about the dating app operator's turnaround efforts, including AI initiatives, and long-term growth prospects. The company reported after market hours on Wednesday that total paying users dropped 8.7 per cent to 3.8 million in the second quarter, despite efforts to improve the quality of its user base and foster more meaningful connections by linking users with similar engagement and intent. Bumble had 4 million paying users in the first quarter and 4.2 million in the fourth quarter of the previous year, by comparison. Meanwhile, Bumble's direct rival Hinge, owned by Match Group, has continued to outperform due to its stronger international market presence and competitive AI suite that offers more personalized matches. Hinge's focus on authentic profiles and innovative prompts has differentiated it from its competitors, helping it achieve higher user engagement and retention rates, analysts have noted. Meanwhile, Bumble still remains in the early stages of its strategy to improve user experience. The company has rolled out new AI-powered features to expand trust and safety tools, but analysts have said the strategy will weigh on user and payer growth in the near term, especially as stricter verification measures roll out. "It remains very early days here and visibility to users and payers is lower in our view," analysts at Citi said, adding that higher marketing, along with research and development expenses, may pressure margins into 2026.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Relief in Taiwan as Trump's 100% chip tariff fails to bite, but experts say it's too early to relax
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has so far pledged a total of US$165 billion (S$212 billion) in investment to build six state-of-the-art fabs in Arizona. TAIPEI – Taipei heaved a temporary sigh of relief even as US President Donald Trump said that he would slap a shocking 100 per cent tariff on imports of semiconductors, the crucial components that form the backbone of Taiwan's economy. That is because companies that commit to making chips in the US would be exempted – according to Mr Trump – which would mean that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the crown jewel of the island's tech industry, would likely be spared. The firm, which is the world's largest contract manufacturer of chips, has so far pledged a total of US$165 billion (S$212 billion) in investment to build six state-of-the-art fabs , or semiconductor plants , in the US state of Arizona. But while things don't look too dire now, the impact of the tariff on Taiwan's chip industry could yet be far-reaching. Large clients of smaller Taiwanese chip suppliers could demand that they move some of their production to the US to sidestep the punishing duties; this could lead to a decline in Taiwan-based chip production and affect the island's position as a key part of the global tech supply chain, say analysts. And while Mr Trump's latest tariff measure is part of a push to boost domestic chip manufacturing, it could lead to higher prices of electronic devices such as smartphones, which could in turn depress demand for such devices and the chips that drive them. Such an outcome would mean uncertainty for Taiwan's semiconductor industry. Still, on Aug 7, TSMC stocks surged nearly 5 per cent to close at a record high of NT$1,180 (S$51), reflecting investor confidence in the wake of Mr Trump's announcement. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Liquor licences for F&B, nightlife venues extended to 4am in Boat Quay, Clarke Quay Singapore Chikungunya cases in Singapore double; authorities monitoring situation closely Singapore Student found with vape taken to hospital after behaving aggressively in school; HSA investigating Asia Cambodia, Thailand agree on Asean observers monitoring truce, but fundamental differences remain Singapore CDC and SG60 vouchers listed on e-commerce platforms will be taken down: CDCs Asia Australia's purchase of Japanese frigates signals a new era for Indo-Pacific security Singapore Jail for driver who drove over leg of special needs woman in accident on church driveway Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Officials in Taiwan were also cautiously optimistic. Speaking to lawmakers during a parliamentary briefing on Aug 7, National Development Council chief Liu Chin-ching argued that a steep 100 per cent tariff rate would not necessarily be disastrous even for Taiwan's smaller chipmakers that do not have a US presence. 'Taiwan currently holds a leading position in the world (in chipmaking) and I believe that if the leader and competitors are all on the same starting line, the leader will continue to lead,' he said. Taiwan is a global powerhouse in chipmaking, with 60 per cent of the world's chips and almost all of the most advanced ones produced there. But experts warned that the lack of details about how the new tariff would be applied means that it is still early days yet to assess its full impact. 'The scope and mechanism of the chip tariff remain unclear. Further developments will need to be closely monitored,' said Ms Joanne Chiao, assistant research manager at Trendforce, a Taiwanese tech research firm. For starters, how much manufacturing a company would need to commit to the US to qualify for a tariff exemption is unclear. It is also unknown if Mr Trump's exemption would cover only chips produced entirely on domestic soil, or also the semiconductors that foreign companies with a US presence , such as British firm Arm, or American companies import from overseas. American chip designers such as Qualcomm typically send their designs to TSMC to be manufactured in Taiwan, before the chips are imported into the US. Moreover, more clarity is needed on whether the new tariff would apply to raw semiconductors and integrated circuits, or also chips in end devices such as smartphones and laptops. During the first quarter of 2025, only around 4 per cent of Taiwan's total exports of electronic components, including semiconductors, were shipped directly to the US. The vast majority of Taiwan-made chips were sent to other countries where they were assembled into consumer electronics. But Professor Julien Chaisse, an international trade expert at City University of Hong Kong, said that it would be 'misleading' to think this would mean that Taiwan's chip exports could be naturally immune to Mr Trump's tariff measure. 'The US government doesn't need a direct shipment to apply pressure – it can change how it interprets rules of origin,' he told The Straits Times. 'If Washington starts insisting that any product with a certain percentage of Taiwanese-made components falls under the tariff, then the effect spreads quickly,' he said. Prof Chaisse added that Mr Trump's tariff also posed a threat to Taiwan's future position in the global tech supply chain. 'Larger buyers may start demanding more Taiwanese capacity be built inside the US, just to sidestep tariffs,' he said, noting that this would, in turn, drain investment from domestic expansion in Taiwan. 'This will have consequences for how Taiwan grows its chip sector over the next five years,' he added. Ultimately, Mr Trump's push to rebuild chip manufacturing in the US will drive up costs for everyone in the supply chain. 'A high tariff on chips would inevitably raise the price of smartphones and laptops, which would also hurt demand for electronic products,' said Ms Liu Pei-chen, an analyst at Taiwan Institute of Economic Research. 'This will bring a lot of uncertainty to the chip industry,' she added. For now, however, Taiwan retains a major advantage – the US will still need to rely on the island for its semiconductor needs, particularly for advanced chips. Taiwan's intricately connected semiconductor ecosystem, which was built up over decades, is not easily replicated. The island's dominance in the sector extends to the technical prowess and efficiency among its chip engineers, which means it is not a simple matter of plonking a factory wherever one wishes. 'Even with the big investments happening in US fabs, it will take years before local production can cover demand,' said Prof Chaisse. 'In the end, this feels like pressure aimed at getting more investment from Taipei. Not because Taiwan is a threat, but because Trump wants quick wins he can point to.'
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
More signing up for courses teaching them to build custom AI bots
Ordinary Singaporeans with no coding background are seizing the chance to build their own AI bots. These are tools that can remember routines, automate chores and send reports without being asked. Enrolments for some of these courses have soared nearly 400 per cent since 2023. With AI Singapore promising it can be 'as easy as making a PowerPoint", schools and training providers are racing to meet the surge. Deepika Giri, Associate Vice President at technology consultancy IDC Research, shares more on customised AI assistants.
