This New Matchmaking App Uses AI And Neuroscience to Find Your Perfect Match

There’s no denying it — modern dating can be a nightmare. If you’re a woman between the ages of 20 and 30, you know how dating apps can make you lose all hope of finding a solid relationship. There never seems to be that kind of person who just gets you, right? And of course, when you scroll through social media and see you friends (and celebrities -- we see you Priyanka and Nick, and Virushka) getting hitched, you always wonder how they found each other, and when you will find that kind of happiness.

No matter how many dating apps and matchmaking websites you and your friends try, there always seems to be something missing. And you’re not alone in feeling this -- it seems to be a universal phenomenon. So, we decided to put our sleuthing hats on and try and find out exactly how these apps work. We sat down with Ishdeep Sawhney, the creator of a new matchmaking app -- Banihal, to know more about the future of finding a partner.

Banihal isn’t your run-of-the-mill app; it’s an AI powered-app that goes several steps further and considers your psyche, along with your likes, dislikes, and background, and guarantees you a match, who is not just suitable, but compatible, too.

According to you, why do Indian women need a new matchmaking app like Banihal?

The Indian millennial woman is tired of the superficial apps and websites that claim to match them with someone reliable, and then not delivering. These traditional platforms don’t really account for personality types and compatibility, in that sense. Which is why today’s generation needs a matchmaking service that caters to them individually, taking into consideration their specific needs.

 

How is Banihal different from other dating apps?

When you rely on technology to bring people together, we usually look at different parts of technology that can help. For example, algorithms and equations help in taking fixed, predictable patterns and predicting the outcome. But matchmaking is not mathematics. Every individual is unique, with different tastes and thoughts and you can’t make an equation with that. So, for these problems, the solution is Deep Learning, which is part of Artificial Intelligence. Our system is called RAE, and it takes data, provided by real people. It doesn’t just throw up profiles that you may like, it actually looks at your personality and computes who would be best suited to you, specifically.

 

How does the AI technology work at setting you up with the person you can spend the rest of your life?

Banihal looks at your bio, your likes, dislikes, and, also gives you a series of a psychological tests. These tests are designed to test various factors, like empathy and emotional intelligence, and then rates you on a scale, as these factors aren’t black or white -- rather a percentage. Based on all the data it collects on you, the AI system looks at other profiles that will match yours. Mind you, this is not to say that these profiles are exactly like yours, but ones that are compatible to yours. The app then offers you 10 profiles that would have the highest possibility of suiting your taste, based on a Gold Ring System. If a profile is 1 Gold Ring, then it’s worthy of a quick browse; 2 Gold Rings, and it’s worth a chat; 3 Gold Rings, and it’s recommended you give the person a call. If It’s a Diamond Ring match, which is a 90% or above character match to you,  it’s highly recommended you meet the person as they are the perfect match for you.

 

Will it work in the Indian context, where parents and families are just as involved in your search for a partner, as you are?

We, at Banihal, do believe that the family system is a vital part of the matchmaking process. It’s not just the individuals, but also their immediate surroundings that we take into consideration. Which is why, while collecting data, we also look at your family background, parents, siblings, educational qualifications, and cultural contexts. So, their criteria are also met, as much as yours.

However, in the last few years, what we have noticed is a shift in pattern, where even the most conservative parents are asking their child to look for a partner themselves. Sure, they’re involved in the process, but the focus is now on the individual and not on their parents. This is a positive change, because our current cultural and social system does not allow us many options for finding someone organically.

 

So, what does the future of Indian matchmaking look like?

It is definitely going to be completely automated and more individual-centric. And Banihal will be at the forefront. It will be the Google of matchmaking, where you put in any specific search and you instantly get the answer you’re looking for.