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New Paper
4 hours ago
- New Paper
Without using profile photos, Singapore-made bot matchmakes strangers
SINGAPORE - Undergraduate Mia, 26, has been chatting with potential dates on Telegram, but she has never seen their faces. 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.
Independent Singapore
10 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
Four new young Tasmanian devils join Night Safari
SINGAPORE: The Night Safari has welcomed four new Tasmanian devils to its Tasmanian Devil Trail. Three-year-old males Cogsworth, Lumière, and Scuttle, and female Cuttlefish will join the existing trio of Tasmanian devils already residing at the park. All seven animals are part of the global Tasmanian Devil Programme, which manages and safeguards the species amid ongoing threats in the wild, most notably a contagious cancer known as Devil Facial Tumour Disease. The new arrivals are being introduced to their new habitat gradually, with the Night Safari's animal care team closely monitoring their adaptation and interactions. According to the park, the three males will share one exhibit, while the females will occupy another. The two groups will rotate through the enclosures from time to time. The Tasmanian devil, known for its stocky frame, black fur, and powerful jaws, is the world's largest surviving carnivorous marsupial. Despite its name and fierce reputation, the creature is a shy scavenger that plays a key role in keeping ecosystems clean by feeding on carrion. The Tasmanian Devil Trail also showcases other Australian natives such as kiwis, gliding mice, and bandicoots. From August 8, the Night Safari will launch a new interactive zone where guests can get up close and personal with red-necked wallabies and even feed them. () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
CNA
10 hours ago
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Common Touch – The Story of Ceramists Zestro & Fyon
In 'Made in SG' Melanie Oliveiro speaks to the founders of pottery studio Common Touch: ceramic artists Fyon Cheong and Zestro Leow. They'll talk about how their studio came about and why they plan to grow Common Touch as a community hub using clay as a powerful connector that fosters shared human experiences. Leow and Cheong will also talk about how they work with people from all walks of life as well as corporate clients. They'll also describe the Common Touch Craft Festival, featuring more than 300 booths showcasing everything from handcrafted ceramics to digital illustrations.
