Bangkok Post – AI plays cupid as Japan tries to boost marriage rate

KYODO – With increasing numbers of people in Japan getting married late or not at all, local governments are turning to a new weapon in their fight to reverse the trend — artificial intelligence (AI).

Authorities in many regions have been organising traditional “konkatsu” matchmaking events with AI sifting compatibilities between potential partners. They say it has sometimes led to people who would never have imagined being together tying the knot.

Even the central government is now putting its support behind such moves as depopulation progresses throughout the country. Subsidies for publicly run AI matchmaking events have been expanding since fiscal 2021.

According to the Children and Families Agency, 31 of Japan’s 47 prefectures offered AI matchmaking services for finding marriage partners as of the end of March last year, with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government…