The Know Daily - Wednesday 29 October 2025

_{Read in 4m 27s ∙ Listening to Izzy Escobar ∙}

A new free app called Wildling is helping people rediscover nature – no matter where they are 🌿 Backed by top conservation groups, it maps over 1,500 wild spaces across the UK and offers tips like “how to build a den” or “how to go rock pooling”. 

💘 Flirting with AI

With OpenAI stepping into adult chat and AI companionship on the rise, the ways people form romantic connections are starting to evolve.

So, what’s the deal with AI and romance?
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently hinted at a version of ChatGPT that will let verified adults engage with more mature content. Meanwhile, many people are already experimenting with chatbots for flirtatious exchanges – basically, AI-powered sexting.

And it’s not all sci-fi: an annual survey of singles found that AI use in dating has more than tripled in the past year in the US, with 40% saying they use it to polish up their profiles and 22% claiming it’s actually helped them get more matches.

Ok, so how does “chatfishing” come into it?
This refers to when someone uses AI to craft their messages, write their dating app bio, or even guide the conversation in a way that isn’t really them. It’s a cousin of “catfishing” (where someone pretends to be someone else entirely) but in this case, while the person might look real, they just don’t sound or act entirely real as their words are stitched together by a bot. 

Why are people concerned?
When chatbots start shaping how we flirt or express emotion, it can blur what’s real and what’s rehearsed. Some worry that relying on AI might dull our ability to connect naturally – to stumble over words, laugh awkwardly, or read someone’s cues in real time. There’s also the emotional risk of falling for a digital version of someone who doesn’t quite exist, plus the sense that privacy and power shift when technology gets between two people trying to get to know each other.

Is there a place for AI in dating?
AI isn’t all bad for modern dating and it can actually be a handy wingman. For people who are shy or out of practice, using a chatbot to polish a bio, craft an opener, or get past that first-message awkwardness can be genuinely helpful. Many daters say they’ve used it and see no harm in a little digital assistance. The trick is transparency and balance: use AI to support you, not to be you. And once the conversation moves offline, let the tech go.

How can I date away from the bots?
If you’re looking for romance but don’t want AI to be your love language, there’s plenty of ways to keep the dating game human: 
👯‍♀️ Try hobby meet-ups or buzzy social venues where the chat flows naturally without an algorithm nudging it along. 
🙋‍♀️ Ask interesting questions that a bot might not come up with like, “If your life had a theme song right now, what would it be?” or “What’s the weirdest compliment you’ve ever received?”.
🥂 Apps like Thursday or Bumble can help with finding IRL events. You could even take a cue from Spain’s supermarket pineapple flirting game (yes it’s a real thing!) and find small, real-world ways to signal you’re open to meeting someone.

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📊 Polling positions: A new YouGov poll shows 17% of voters back Labour, on par with the Conservatives, while Reform UK leads at 27%.

• The bigger story: The poll also finds the Green Party climbing to 16%, their highest ever level of support. Analysts say the figures reflect shifting voter sentiment and growing interest in alternative parties, highlighting the challenges Keir Starmer faces in regaining momentum ahead of future elections.

👩‍🎨 Creative comfort: A new study has found that looking at original works of art in galleries can help relieve stress.

📱 iPhone income: Apple has become the third company in history to break through the $4 trillion market value milestone.

🤝 Defence deal: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and US President Donald Trump have promised to bring the US-Japan security alliance into a “new golden age”.

🗑️ Litter bug borough: This London borough has been revealed as the littering capital of the UK, with its council starting a new campaign to tackle the issue. 

✈️ Staycation state: New data has shown that Spain is the country with the most “loyal” citizens when it comes to travel within Europe and least likely to holiday abroad.

🥱 It’s bedtime somewhere!: Have you ever wondered exactly why we yawn? This piece spells it out – and it’s far from yawn-inducing!

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Trivia answer: C) Six species of bats in North America glow an eerie green, perfect for spooky season!

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