Can AI Curate a Great Meal With Strangers?

"The experience was arranged entirely by a social platform called 222, which selects a group of strangers to meet up for pre-organized dinners, drinks, yoga classes, rooftop DJ sets, and more activities, all based on converted compatibility insights from a questionnaire."

"We all met at Samadhi, a wellness space in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, by 10:55 a.m., per 222's prompt reminders, which - as it stressed through multiple push notifications - I could disregard at the risk of being banned from the app altogether should I choose to cancel, or in the words of the app, 'bail.'"

"When asked about what drew her interest to the educational matcha ceremony, and to 222 in general, she told me that she had an interest in spirituality, and found it difficult to meet new people as a local who doesn't just want to bar-hop. This, she explained, felt more intentional."

222 is a social meetup platform that uses AI algorithms to match compatible strangers for organized group activities including dinners, drinks, yoga classes, and wellness events. Users complete a questionnaire that generates compatibility insights, which the platform uses to assemble groups around shared interests. The app enforces attendance through penalty systems, threatening bans for cancellations. At a matcha ceremony event in Brooklyn, attendees ranged from first-time users to experienced participants who had attended dozens of events. Users appreciate the platform's intentional approach to meeting people beyond traditional bar-hopping, particularly those interested in spirituality and wellness. The experience combines structured social connection with curated activities designed to foster meaningful friendships.

Read at Eater