aKind adds AI event recommendations in New York and Miami

aKind has rolled out AI-powered event recommendations for users in New York and Miami, letting people type plain-language requests instead of sorting through fixed categories. The update is designed to help newcomers and other users find better-fit events faster, and it is now live on Android and iOS.

Why it matters: - aKind is trying to make local event discovery feel more like asking a friend for a tip than filtering through a directory. - The update could help people who have just moved to a new city or country find events that better match their interests and social goals. - The feature is designed to reduce the guesswork in choosing events and improve the chances of meeting compatible people.

What happened: - aKind released an update that adds AI-powered event recommendations. - Users in New York and Miami can now describe the type of event they want in their own words. - The app highlights the best matches on the city map and in the event list. - The update is available on Android and iOS.

The details: - Users can open the filter on the map or in the list and type requests such as “alcohol-free events” or “outdoor activities for beginners.” - The AI looks at what each event is actually about, rather than matching only keywords or fixed categories. - The system can handle more specific requests such as “evening events in the city center.” - Recommendations also factor in a user’s interests, past activity and whether people with high compatibility scores plan to attend. - Matching events are marked with a star. - Recommendations update daily. - Before launch, the team tested the feature with real-life requests, including one asking for unusual event formats focused on culinary, history and tech, with availability on weekends and weekday evenings. - The update also includes a redesigned filter by date and event type. - The map now shows city landmarks more clearly. - The event list now puts recommended and planned events at the top.

Between the lines: - The product direction suggests aKind is betting that plain-language search will be easier for users than navigating traditional event filters. - Andrew Lagun, product manager at aKind, said the goal was to make it easier for people who are building a social circle from scratch. - Lagun said typing one sentence feels more like asking a friend for a recommendation than setting multiple filters. - Lagun also said testing surfaced an event that led to a food tasting lecture and new information about beer soup and the history of bagels in New York. - The testing process also pointed to a need for clearer language labels on events, especially for people who have recently moved to a new country. - aKind keeps real names and exact locations private, and messages are sent only after a chat request is accepted.

What's next: - aKind plans to make each event’s language easier to see in a future update. - The company is continuing to refine the recommendation experience based on testing and early use. - aKind is free to download on the App Store and Google Play. - More information is available at aKind's website. - The app is currently available in New York and Miami.

The bottom line: - aKind is moving event discovery away from rigid filters and toward conversational AI recommendations aimed at helping people find better social matches nearby.