AI trend set to take over social media this Valentine’s Day

AI-generated romance will be hot this Valentine’s Day – creating everything from cards to online dating profiles. See how it works.

Sarah Regan, founder of Little Flowers, says the best cards come from the heart, not AI. Picture: Supplied

Roses are red, violets are blue. The right choice of words, can help romance renew.

Anyone familiar with “the five love languages” will know the power of words when it comes to romance.

In his famous 1992 book of the same name, Gary Chapman categorises the ways we express and receive love as: quality time, physical touch, gifts, acts of service and words of affirmation.

This last language refers to verbalising compliments and appreciation.

But what if you don’t have gift of the gab?

Fear not, our experts – both human and otherwise – have you covered this Valentine’s Day.

ROMANTIC CARDS

Little Flowers founder Sarah Regan has been sending love notes for customers for about a decade and says although flowers are important, true love is expressed through the words on the card.

“The best cards have a bit of comedy – they are light hearted, self-deprecating and fun,” she says.

“Or they are a bit cheeky – they are coy, flirty but avoid the cheese factor or being overly soppy.”

Sarah Regan, of Little Flowers, says the best cards come from the heart, not AI. Picture: Supplied

Some of the best messages she has seen include “I love you even though your feet look like gammon (ham)” and “True love is spending six hours with me in IKEA”.

This Valentine’s Day, some people are turning to artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT to help them write romantic cards and notes.

The freely accessible AI chat bot produces human-like responses to natural language prompts.

For example, when asked to “write a Valentine’s Day card for my husband, with whom I recently bought a house, enjoy going for afternoon walks and whose favourite band is My Chemical Romance” it produced:

“Happy Valentine’s Day to my amazing husband!

You make every day special with your love and support.

Walking hand-in-hand and jamming to My Chemical Romance are just a few of the reasons I fall more in love with you each day.

Our home is filled with so much love and laughter, and I’m grateful for every moment spent there.

You are my everything and I will love you always.”

OpenAI’s ChatGPT produces text responses using artificial intelligence. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Although Regan has tried ChatGPT, she does not plan to use it for her Valentine.

“I think the best messages come from personal anecdotes and writing from the heart and I don’t think chat bots have a heart yet,” she says.

“It could give you inspiration and guidance, though.”

LOVE POEMS

Australian Poetry’s Jacinta Le Plastrier says poetry can also be a powerful way to express love as it can often communicate in a small number of words and in unexpected ways.

The publisher’s best advice for first-time romantic poets is to read other love poems for inspiration and research.

“Love poems are actually very difficult to write well, and nearly all practising poets will read other poets, from now and historically, to strengthen their own work,” she says.

“If you ever wish to borrow from an original poem, or extract from it, this should be acknowledged.”

Up the romance with a love poem this Valentine’s Day. Picture: iStock

Le Plastrier also encourages people to be “courageous” in their poetry.

“A dearest poet friend says that ‘poetry is truth’. This is definitely my belief and if you can write what is pure and direct, this is so incredible,” she says.

“Also: like everything, practice and experimenting will allow you to develop greater capacities, skills and tools as you continue to write.

“(But) be heart-direct. Don’t lose that.”

Can ChatGPT be “heart-direct”?

This was the result when asked to “write a short love poem from a woman to a man she has known for 11 years”:

“Eleven years have passed, my love,

Our bond remains so true.

Together, hand-in-hand,

I’m forever grateful for you.

I cherish every moment spent,

With you by my side.

Forever yours, my dearest one,

My love for you will never hide.”

DATING PROFILES

Data from online dating app Bumble shows Australians who complete the “bio” section of their profile receive 29 per cent more matches than those who don’t.

Bumble communications director Lucille McCart says bios allow people to express what they are looking for and make an intellectual or romantic connection with a match.

“Not everyone is funny so don’t feel pressure to have jokes, but what we would always say is lead with positivity,” she says.

“Instead of saying ‘not looking for hook ups’ say ‘I am looking for a relationship’ or instead of ‘not looking for a Sagittarius’, ‘I’m looking for an Aries’.

Bumble’s Lucille McCart recommends keeping dating profiles positive. Picture: iStock

She also recommends being specific with examples.

“Don’t just say ‘I love to travel’, say ‘I love to travel, the last place I went was Mexico and next on my list is Fiji’,” she says.

“Give people things to talk to you about.”

Meanwhile, Tinder recommends users follow the “3, 5, 11 rule”.

Choose at least three interests, add at least five recent photos, and write at least 11 words for your bio.

Relationship expert Samantha Jayne recommends creating a Tinder bio “that reveals enough about you to paint a picture, but also creates an element of intrigue and mystery”.

“Make your profile fun, lighthearted and approachable so that it’s super easy to strike up a conservation with you,” she says.

For those struggling with their dating profile, ChatGPT may be a handy tool.

When asked to “write a dating app bio – I am looking for a relationship, no one-night stands, I like dogs and Italian food, recently road tripped the USA”, it generated:

“Adventure-seeker looking for my partner in crime. No one-night stands, I’m here for the real thing. Road tripped the USA and always up for the next adventure. Can’t resist a good plate of Italian food, and my furry best friend is always by my side. Let’s make some memories and build a future together.”

But McCart says people are better off getting a friend to write their dating bio rather than ChatGPT as AI copy is unlikely to be unique and may raise “beige flags” for prospective matches.

“A red flag is a warning sign, a beige flag is a boring sign,” she says.

Examples of beige flags include overused phrases or talking points, such as whether a person likes pineapple on their pizza or stores their tomato sauce in the fridge or cupboard.

“If you have been online dating for a while, you have become used to seeing (these things),” she says.

“It pays to stand out and be interesting and unique.”

Originally published as AI trend set to take over social media this Valentine’s Day