Whether the thought of that first meeting fills you with dread or excitement first dates as we know them could soon be a thing of the past.
Research carried out by eHarmony based on over 100 years of data as well as interviews with numerous experts and published by Imperial College Business School claims that by 2040, the ever-challenging first date will be replaced by virtual meetings.
Yep, that’s right, less than a third of people will be getting drunk and doing lord knows what on their first meeting, with most preferring to meet up with potential partners in a virtual reality date scenario.
The study also suggests that DNA sequencing could be used to match people with a similar genetic profile. Ah, so sweet.
Romain Bertrand, of eHarmony.co.uk, said:
By 2040 we estimate that 70 per cent of couples will get together online, with technology revolutionising the way we find love and build our relationships. From making matches between singles even more accurate based on deep learning of our behaviour, to streamlining the dating process so it’s less time consuming, and even helping couples to enhance their relationships with artificial intelligence, finding the right person will be easier than ever.
Apparently the technology would also allow people to use all five senses when meeting a date with potential partners even able to ‘hold hands’ from opposite sides of the globe. A nice thought, but how is that practical for a relationship?
“So, do tell me, how did you two get together?” “Well, a computer ran our genetic information through a database crosschecking it against millions of profiles until it came up with a logically coded match for our ideal partner.” There’s one for the grandchildren.
