Hinge CEO Justin McLeod has stepped down to build Overtone, a new dating platform that places AI and voice interactions at the centre of how people meet and connect. The company describes Overtone as an early-stage service designed to create more intentional, personal conversations, a shift away from the text-heavy, swipe-first culture dominating most dating apps.
McLeod’s move marks one of the biggest leadership shifts in the online dating industry this year, especially as major platforms face pressure to innovate and address user fatigue. Overtone’s approach aims to blend AI matchmaking with real-time voice tools, giving users a deeper sense of personality and chemistry before meeting offline.
Industry analysts expect the new venture to quickly attract attention, given McLeod’s track record in reshaping modern dating norms and the growing appetite for AI-supported personal connection tools.
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