There are numerous dating apps out there, along with those that help you manage the chaos of work obligations by turning them into easy-to-follow lists. Additionally, a growing number of apps aim to help you make new friends. Rodeo, however, offers a different angle by using AI to assist you in scheduling activities with your existing friends. Founded by two former Hinge executives, Rodeo addresses the challenge many face in making plans with friends amidst parenting, work, and a barrage of group chats—all of which can lead to neglected relationships.
Rodeo simplifies the process of turning social media posts about events or restaurants, or even screenshots from group chats, into actual plans. For example, if you upload a screenshot of an Instagram ad for a movie, Rodeo will pull up local theaters showing it and provide showtimes, allowing you to purchase tickets right there. There’s also a handy feature to send an invite to a friend you want to include in your plans.
Activities can be organized into lists for future reference, such as great date-night restaurants or fun spots to visit with college friends, like a local paintball venue. You can even invite friends to collaborate on these lists, making it easy to gather suggestions from your old frat buddies.
Interestingly, founders Sam Levy and Tim MacGougan aren’t making a big deal about the AI aspect of their app. In a time when LLMs and other AI technologies are trendy in Silicon Valley, they seem to recognize that many Americans prefer to keep AI out of their personal lives. Yet, this AI functionality is what differentiates Rodeo. While anyone can share collaborative lists, bookmark restaurants, and send calendar invites through a Gmail account, Rodeo streamlines the process of gathering event details and turning them into actionable plans.
The company does still embrace some buzzwords. As reported by Business Insider, Levy has described the app as “a ‘second brain’ for planning activities with friends and family.” Rodeo is banking on the organizational obsession that has catapulted tools like Notion, Obsidian, and My Mind to success, hoping it gives their app a boost in the social space.
Right now, Rodeo is available in an invite-only beta, but you can download the iOS app to join the waiting list.
