What about doing something a few steps below that?

I mean, look, I think it's actually quite depressing if we're talking about the idea of going against social norms being such a big barrier to essentially saving a woman's life.

Because I think, again, we need to talk about the ramifications for this Jane Doe.

You know, she was gang raped by seven men, allegedly.

That is a life-changing event, and particularly when we talk about, you know, how global this case is and the scale at which it's being discussed.

That woman's life is not only forever changed, she will be forever traumatized by that incident.

And so if we're talking about, well, you know, these men shouldn't...

Um, O- O- Olivia, what do you think about then those mis- misapprehensions that men have, both about what other men feel about the issue of sexual violence, but also how other men might react if they themselves do something about it?

So Red Lips has this incredible kind of idea behind it, which is that women buy the tickets, which means the men are vetted.

Yes.

And it means that there is an even number of men and women there because...

The big problem across the singles night industry is that women tend to be the ones that buy tickets for heterosexual events.

So for any sort of straight dating night, the tickets for single women tend to sell out almost immediately.

And with men, it's very difficult to the point where I've spoken with people who organize the events and they'll be there in a room full of women and they'll sort of go out on the street looking for men being like, excuse me, are you single? And try and like rope men to come into the events.

Oh, my God.

left her,

you.

How did you get into journalism? So I did English literature at Bristol University, and then I did lots of work experience when I was there for basically anyone and everyone that would have me.

Um, and there was quite a lot of good work placement programs in place when I was at uni.

So I did one at the week.

I did one at the FT.

I did one at the times magazine.

And then I did like a fashion PR internship and all of this just, I think really helped gather experience.

between writing a personal story and writing that because those are personal stories it's just you're reporting i'm not the person yes is it that a personal story is written in the first person

D- what do you think of this idea of an AI tool on a dating app?

I mean, look, I think it's something that we need to be really conservative about because if people are using AI on apps, it means that from the outset, those initial interactions are going to be rooted in something that is fundamentally quite inauthentic.

You know, I, I understand that, you know, Hinge is arguing that it's going to try and help users express themselves, but if you're really using that technology from the very first interaction on the app, I think that it gets you off to a bad start.

You know, and it kind of encourages this reliance on this other service when you are communicating with someone, and so I guess it's about how far do you take that, because then do you get a point where you essentially just have two bots flirting with each other?

How did they go? Did people actually turn up?

Yeah, so I've started these singles nights sort of by mistake just from an article I wrote.

Um, it's called Red Lips Dating, and it's very much about helping women meet people in real life, and you know I wear red lipstick a lot and the idea is when you kiss someone when you're wearing red lipstick, it leaves a mark all over them.

So it's sort of about encouraging those kind of empowered women who want to be proactive and go out there and find someone in the wild.

When did you first notice this and what kinds of things were they saying? I actually wanted to know to say, when did it change from crypto to AI? Yeah.

Well, I suppose the first time I noticed it really changing was when someone I had met on a dating app suggested that we ask ChatGBT to describe one another to potential romantic partners.

Just on a first date? Well, we hadn't met yet.

We were just talking on a dating app.

So it was just an idea.

And I thought, OK, that's interesting.

Sure.

And even when they do, they're less likely to embrace those risks.

So, does Olivia keep in touch with her exes?

I'm definitely on good terms with some of them and friendly with some of them.

But I don't think I would say I have close friendships with anyone I've dated necessarily.

And neither do any of my heterosexual friends, really.

It's quite rare, I think, for the straight people I know to be close friends with people they've dated, particularly if it's been a longer term relationship.

And I think there are all sorts of reasons for that.

And I also think it's a real shame, by the way.

But perhaps those last two are not the norm, Olivia.

Do you stay in touch with your

exes? I'm definitely on good terms with some of them and friendly with some of them.

But I don't think I would say I have close friendships with anyone I've dated necessarily.

And neither do any of my heterosexual friends, really.

It's quite rare, I think, for the straight people I know to be close friends with people they've dated, particularly if it's been a longer-term relationship.

And I think there are all sorts of reasons for that.

And I also think it's a real shame, by the way.

But perhaps those last two, not the norm, Olivia.