Sex and Intimacy in the Age of Genetic Artificial Intelligence
Sex and technology have long been intertwined – millions of us use dating apps to find partners, and some of the first commercial online activities revolved around pornography.
So it’s no surprise that genetic artificial intelligence – technology that allows computers to create lifelike, realistic content in many forms – is already creating new avenues for exploring digital sex and intimacy.
From chatbots and image generators to AI-enabled sex toys and even realistic, functional robots, new opportunities to explore intimacy and fantasy are quickly becoming a reality.
Of course, this raises some important ethical questions. How will this explosion of possibilities reshape our perceptions and attitudes about such fundamentally human experiences as sex? What is the role of consent when we involve intelligent machines in our intimate lives? And what might be the impact of developing sexual relationships with technology on our emotional and psychological well-being?
Intimacy and relationships with artificial intelligence
Virtual influencers are widely used by brands to promote and sell products, but today they also regularly sell sex. Rival OnlyFans Fanview hosts virtual models – who also promote themselves on Instagram – offering adult content and chats to a growing fan base.
Sika Moon is one such model, with over 300,000 followers. Other sites like Candy.ai, DreamGF and VirtualGF let users create their own virtual girlfriends who will then engage in explicit chat with them and even send revealing photos of themselves. When I talk to them Not long ago, the people behind DreamGF (men, surprise!) said they were getting ready to take it to the next level with AI-generated video.
In addition to virtual influencers that exist entirely in the digital realm, these sites also offer real-life models the opportunity to create AI versions of themselves that will handle the time-consuming work of chatting with fans for them.
While virtual partners can happily exist in the digital world, some are already doing their best to bring them into the physical world. Sex robots have been in development for a long time and while they are not yet on the market, models such as Harmony they are approaching. While the development of these robots initially focused on replicating the “look and feel” of human beings, the advent of genetic artificial intelligence means they are now equipped with personalities of their own.
Interestingly, Dr Kate Devlin, author of Activated: Science, Sex and Robotssays her research shows that potential buyers are just as interested in the companionship these robots offer as they are in the sexual potential.
For dating app users who are tired of being ghosted, Flure has come up with a solution. Their AI, Anna, is “always on” and promises to give each user her undivided attention. This allows users to exchange an unlimited number of messages and images, all personalized to their own taste.
Generative AI is also making its way into sex games. The manufacturer Lovense created the ChatGPT Pleasure Companionwhich is capable of telling love stories based on the preferences of its users during use.
It has even been reported that a growing number of people identify as “bisexual”. This means that their sexuality is primarily determined by their use of technology – be it online pornography or online sex.
The Ethics of AI Sex
All of this clearly shows us that human sexuality is evolving alongside technology – just like every other aspect of our lives.
But is this all harmless fun? It’s easy to see that some people might become dependent on virtual or AI-based relationships at the expense of their ability to bond with real people.
This could cause problems if we consider that AI partners have the potential to be very personalized and pushy. Programmed purely to please and perfectly attuned to the specific desires of their users, they could become highly addictive and some people may feel that they fall in love with or become dependent on their AI companion.
Another issue is that the ease with which AI can fulfill fantasies means that these simulated, virtual experiences could easily distort expectations about real sex and intimacy. Once someone gets used to an AI partner who always puts them first, how will they feel when they have to consider the needs and feelings of a human partner? As early exposure to pornography has been shown to affect expectations about sexual relationships, this could be particularly concerning when talking about youth with limited interpersonal relationship experience.
And where is the consensus in all this? After all, an AI partner can’t say no – or at least it can be programmed to never say no. Does this have the potential to normalize unhealthy or one-sided power dynamics within relationships?
The questions raised by the question of consent in human/artificial intelligence relationships must be carefully considered to ensure that they do not compromise our ability to build genuine, human relationships based on mutual feelings, desires and respect.
AI and the future of intimacy
The impact of artificial intelligence on sexuality and intimacy is likely to have far-reaching implications.
Thinking beyond recreational sex, artificial intelligence has the potential to enable new forms of therapy and sex education. This could help individuals learn about themselves and perhaps even heal the damage caused by negative experiences in a safe, simulated environment.
However, the hyper-real experiences that could soon be available—especially when we combine technologies like genetic artificial intelligence, robotics, and virtual reality—create a need for ethical guardrails to ensure that this is done responsibly.
One thing that is certain is that sex sells, which means that businesses will always be willing to provide products and services that fill this niche.
This means that we have to learn from past experiences, such as effect that the explosion in the availability of online pornography has had on society.
Importantly, the ethical concerns we have identified here must be proactively addressed to ensure we establish clear guidelines and minimize the potential for harm as we move into a new era in human sex and relationships.
