Internet influencer Haliey Welch is expanding her brand empire into the tech sector. The 22-year-old creator, who rose to fame with her "Hawk Tuah" video and gained 5 million followers in just a few months, launched an AI dating advisor app called Pookie Tools this week, targeting Generation Z.
The launch of this app comes at a perfect time. In an environment where online dating is rife with "ghosting" and scams, more and more young people are turning to AI tools for dating advice. Pookie Tools offers a range of unique features, including AI-driven conversation guidance, outfit suggestions, profile optimization tips, and even zodiac compatibility analysis. The app also introduces a "flirting score" feature that rates the flirtatiousness of user messages on a scale from 0 to 100.
However, the most striking features are its two controversial tools: the "Baldness Predictor" and the "Height Detector." These tools aim to address honesty issues on dating platforms but have also raised concerns about bias. Welch, who is 5 feet 8 inches tall, stated that the height detector is her favorite, even though tests show its accuracy still needs improvement.
The creation of this app stemmed from an unexpected inspiration. "This was actually a suggestion from Bill Maher on his podcast," Welch explained. To bring this idea to life, she collaborated with Ben Gantz, the founder of Ultimate AI Studio. Although the AI chatbot feedback in the app is currently lukewarm, the team is using transcripts from Welch's podcast to train the model, hoping to inject more personalized features.
Pookie Tools operates on a subscription model, offering users the choice of a $7 weekly plan or a $50 annual plan, along with a three-day free trial. While Welch is not the first content creator to cross over into tech, her young age is indeed noteworthy, possibly reflecting the new generation of creators' thoughts on career sustainability.
With appearances from notable figures like Holly Madison and Whitney Cummings on the Talk Tuah podcast, and the team's commitment to rolling out more new features, it will be interesting to see if this app can stand out in the crowded dating market.