'Hawk Tuah' girl Haliey Welch launches AI-powered dating app with unusual features
Swipe on that thang
Haliey Welch took the internet by storm earlier in 2024, and since then, the rise of 'Hawk Tuah Girl' has taken her to some crazy places.
She's performed on stage alongside Zack Bryan, partied with Shaquille O’Neal, and even claimed to have had Elon Musk in her DMs.
As well as making bank on merchandise and launching her own podcast (brilliantly called Talk Tuah), Welch's next steps see her launch her own AI dating app.
If there wasn't already enough choice when it comes to dating apps, you might feel like you've swiped and scrolled on every option on Bumble, Hinge, and Tinder.
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Welch hopes to offer something different with Pookie Tools.
Although Welch's boyfriend was originally just referred to as 'Pookie', she celebrated his name reveal by naming an app after his nickname.
The App Store listing for Pookie Tools reads: "Gen Z’s relationship guru, Haliey Welch, launches Pookie Tools, all her newest cheat codes for a smarter, more enjoyable dating experience. Designed to help at every step of your relationship, Pookie’s AI tools assist you in making connections, enhancing profiles, and planning dates confidently."
Aimed specifically at Gen Z, Pookie Tools boasts an AI chatbot that can give you general dating advice and offer tips on conversation starters. From outfit suggestions to zodiac compatibility, Pookie Tools is making the most of a rise in those who are even turning to ChatGPT to help with their romance woes.
Speaking to TechCrunch, Welch has explained her latest business venture.
"I [was on] Bill Maher’s podcast, and it was actually one of his ideas he gave me. He kind of pushed me, in a way, saying I should be a relationship coach. And so we came up with the idea. … This app is the easiest way for them to find their forever Pookie."
Partnering with Ben Ganz, founder of AI customer support automation platform Ultimate AI Studio, Welch got to work at appealing to Gen Z.
Pookie Tools promotes itself on the ability to create date ideas based on your location and how far into your relationship you are.
As well as offering an honest opinion of your dating profile, the app uses a 'Flirt Meter' to evaluate your banter in messages.
Although the responses from the chatbot seem pretty generic for now, Ganz hopes to train the app's AI using transcripts from the Talk Tuah podcast and capture Welch's signature style.
There's also controversy around the AI-powered 'Bald Predictor' and 'Height Detector' features, especially with a reminder that it's not all about looks.
If a success, Pookie Tools hopes to expand and potentially collaborate with other creators. As Talk Tuah has previously included the likes of Whitney Cummings, you get an idea of the kind of people who could be working with the app.
With Welch boasting five million followers across her social media platforms, she's been referred to as a Gen Z Dolly Parton and definitely has the potential to meet the masses with Pookie Tools.