Machinery of Joy: Is AI Already Making Sexwork Obsolete?
How the world’s oldest profession may struggle to compete against digitized fantasies
Just as CDs replaced vinyl records, people traded in their horses for automobiles, airplanes displaced steamships, and computers made typewriters outdated, so sexworkers may eventually find themselves supplanted by artificial intelligence systems capable of doing what they simply can’t.
That is fulfilling anyone’s sexual desires, no matter how physically impractical—or flat-out impossible—they may be.
If Vice is correct, in-person sexwork’s obsolescence is already well on its way
The minute you walked in the joint
“Unlike real women who spend hours shooting, editing, and promoting their content,” the article begins, “these digital babes are built with text prompts and AI image generators, and—behind the scenes—often run by anonymous tech-savvy men. Creators of AI influencers can earn a ridiculous amount of money without ever stepping in front of a camera.”
Setting aside its blatant sexism, should sexworkers really begin looking for other employment opportunities?
Vice seems to think so, referencing Forbes’ prediction that the AI intimacy industry will soon hit the 30 billion dollar mark, “Within a decade, we’ll likely see AI-enhanced sexual experiences that blur the line between physical and digital intimacy. The challenge will be integrating these technologies in ways that enhance rather than replace human connection.”
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Vice’s further evidence that human sexwork may not be long for this world is a BBC report on the adult entertainment industry and the booming synthetic companion industry’s growing use of ever-more-sophisticated machine language systems.
Owner and founder of Berlin’s Cybrothel, Philipp Fussenegger, told the BBC, “Many people feel more comfortable sharing private matters with a machine because it doesn’t judge.”
Which as he goes on to explain why he’s seen a move away from human voice performers, with customers showing “an even greater demand for interacting with artificial intelligence.”
So, let me get right to the point
Another expert Vice cited was Raffaele Ciriello, writing for The Conversation, where he warns that due to the 21st century’s loneliness epidemic, “the demand for sexbots is only going to grow. Corporations will meet this demand unless society and the state set clear boundaries on what’s acceptable.”
The University of Sydney’s Senior Lecturer in Business Information Systems continues to sound the alarm about synthetic companions, saying, “the dystopian potential of sexbots for mass-customised, corporate-controlled monetisation of our most intimate sphere is unprecedented.”
I don’t pop my cork for ev’ry guy I see
Forbes says someone—who or what isn’t specified—should ensure AI sextech won’t compromise our need for physical, human intimacy.
The BBC largely agrees but concludes on a more positive note, quoting Ruben Cruz, the Clueless Agency’s co-founder and developer of the Aitana Lopez AI-generated influencer, who assures us human sexworkers aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, but technology might help make it far more ethical, “This shift aims to ensure that no person, male or female, has to be explicitly sexualized in the future.”
Ciriello, on the other hand, takes the BBC’s concerns to a whole new level, advocating for governmental interference, which we’ve reported about previously, doesn’t seem like a particularly good idea as they’ve often demonstrated obvious ignorance around sex, technology, and when the two combine.
The Vice article concludes by saying human and non-human sexwork appear to be neck and neck, though “As AI continues to seduce users with perfection, human creators are now in serious competition. And as of right now, both are making bank.”
Spend a little time with me
Putting all this together, is Vice correct in thinking the oldest profession will inevitably be replaced by sexual-fantasy fulfilling, far more emotionally satisfying technologies?
Don’t forget cassettes and vinyl records aren’t as popular as they were way back when, but people haven’t stopped enjoying them. Automobiles may be everywhere, but horseback riding didn’t exactly vanish. Steamships might be rare, but sailing certainly isn’t. Computers are inarguably ubiquitous, but nothing beats banging away on a classic typewriter.
The point is while synthetic companions and chatbots will eventually be indistinguishable from humans in regard to our emotional and sexual needs, some will always crave more natural experiences.
As a result, there will never be a shortage of people willing to offer their services—for a price.
Image Sources: Depositphotos
