Exploring the potential of digital adult performers and VR brothels

I wasn’t yet over my visit to the famous Red Light District in Amsterdam when I stumbled on news of Claudia, an AI-generated adult entertainer. 

As reported by the Washington Post, the computer-generated performer is offering alluring images of herself to her many followers on Reddit. 

Meanwhile, Berlin’s Cybrothel is using a mixture of virtual reality and sexbots like the Chinese Kokeshi to entertain its patrons.

All you have to do is put on a set of goggles, enter a private room, and see her come to life before your very eyes. Besides Kokeshi, it offers similar experiences with other models like Haito, a Japanese Manga nerd, Mistress Oxana, an older doll with a dark side, or Paris, a blonde bombshell.

There’s also the male-appearing Ken Guy Ryder, a sultry, blue-eyed bisexual who says he loves to dance and listen to whoever wants to listen.

All this got me thinking: with these and other technologies currently under development, is it just a mere time before flesh and blood erotic entertainers and sex workers are replaced by synthetic versions of themselves? 

Sexbots will complement human sex workers

One scenario to consider is that technology may not replace human sex workers but rather complement them, as in the use of virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality experiences, as well as smart sex toys able to interact with the user.

In this case, AI might enhance the intimacy and pleasure of sex work in addition to providing improved safety and privacy for both sex workers as well as their clients. 

For example, sex workers might use AI to create digital avatars or personas to promote their services online or via VR/AR platforms. 

As Dr. Kate Devlin, a senior lecturer in social and cultural artificial intelligence at King’s College London, says in her book Turned On, “This could open up new markets and opportunities for sex work. It will reduce some of the stigma and discrimination that sex workers face in some societies.” 

Furthermore, AI could help sex workers manage their schedules, thus optimizing their businesses. Advanced algorithms may also help them analyze data, such as their availability and client preferences, to suggest optimal bookings and travel routes. Their enhanced productivity would then allow sex workers to focus more on providing quality experiences to their clients.

AI will partially replace human sex workers 

Another possibility is AI partially replacing sex workers, but not completely by the creation of more advanced and realistic sexbots capable of mimicking human emotions, expressions, and behaviors. 

In this case, this technology could be heaven-sent for digisexuals who prefer a more physical and tactile interaction as they’ll be able to customize their AI sex partners to match their unique preferences.

AI will empower sex workers

Rather than being supplanted, sex workers’ lives might be supported or even improved by technology tools. For example, algorithms might be utilized to ensure their safety by verifying clients through facial recognition or background checks, providing an extra layer of security.

Additionally, AI might aid in their marketing and advertising efforts. 

Machine learning programs could effectively analyze user behavior and preferences to help them target specific audiences, leading to increased potential client engagement.

AI-powered recommendation systems might also aid in matching clients with the most suitable sex worker based on their preferences and requirements.

“AI can help people in my sector to not navigate “draconian” laws in various jurisdictions worldwide but also get more clients,” Sharon Jennings, the manager of the Sex Industry Network based in South Australia, told the Guardian,

“It’s very exciting to think about the potential,” she added, “it would also allow sex workers access to clients in places where anonymity is limited. People can progressively operate as sex workers even in their bedrooms, without other family members knowing.” 

Artificial sex workers will fall short of replicating human sex workers

While technology might enhance certain aspects of the commercial sex industry, it needs to catch up in replicating the nuanced human connection that is often essential to the profession. 

While Jennings recognizes the potential for artificial sex workers, she dismisses the notion they’d be eventually put out of work, saying, “Some people want more than just sex from sex workers; they want to be held and touched.” 

Striking a balance

Sexbots may offer certain advantages over human sex workers, like the ability to be customized and programmed to suit their user’s needs. Still, they also could help reduce the risk of violence and exploitation and reduce the stigma many sex workers continue to face.

Though sexbots may not be able to replace human sex workers completely, they can go a long way in helping enhance sexual experiences for digisexuals. 

By harnessing the power of AI while keeping the human element in mind, I see a bright future for both human sex workers and AI sex dolls.

Image Sources: Depositphotos 

The post Good Times For Everyone: How AI Might Update The World’s Oldest Profession appeared first on Future of Sex.

Planning to visit a sex doll brothel? Here are some things you should know. Plus, tips on how to book a steamy silicone session

Since the world’s first-ever sex doll brothel opened in Germany in 2017, they’ve continued to spring up worldwide. While pay-for-play isn’t a new concept, sex doll brothels come with their own set of rules and expectations. If you’re planning to visit a sex doll brothel, separating fact from fiction is an important part of preparing for this fantasy.

They come and go quickly

In March 2018, one of the UK’s first-ever sex doll brothels, The Dolly Parlor, was opened in Greenwich, South East London. I decided to visit to get a glimpse into the reality of what it’s really like to visit a sex doll brothel. However, when I went to book a visit… poof… it had already disappeared. Not much has been reported on why The Dolly Parlour quietly closed its doors, but quiet closure is a reality that many sex doll brothels face around the world due to stigma and health concerns.

Similar to the UK, Italy saw its first sex doll brothel, Lumidolls Torino (part of a worldwide chain), open in 2018. The business claimed to have been booked weeks in advance, but it took only nine days for the branch to be raided and shut down by police. 

Lumidolls were found to have violated Italian rental laws by the city’s health authorities, who cited cleanliness and hygiene concerns of the sex dolls after usage. Health concerns are one of the main reasons sex doll brothels are closed down, especially with high-volume traffic.

Prepare to encounter stigma – a lot of it

Date a Doll in Lanarkshire, Scotland, ceased operating after only two weeks at the start of 2018. Local villagers were horrified by the new business and rallied together to successfully have it closed down. 

Sex doll advocates often face stigma from people who can’t understand the appeal of a sex doll, let alone an entire brothel full of them. 

Local authorities are pressured into shutting down these alternative brothels by concerned members of the public. Even some sex workers are complaining that sex doll brothels are stealing their trade. 

Despite the stigma around sex doll brothels and the constant closures, it hasn’t prevented people from booking steamy silicone sessions. Before its closure, LumiDolls in Turin boasted about their books being filled for weeks in advance. In fact, the number of people turning to sex dolls has only increased. 

Sex Doll Genie, a love doll and robot distributor, reported a 51.6% rise in sex doll sales during the first two months of 2020, and the business continues to grow by 33.2% year-on-year. However, not everyone can afford to splash out thousands of dollars on these sex dolls, and that’s where brothels come into play.

Logistic expectations when visiting a sex doll brothel 

First, you’ll need to obtain the address of the sex doll brothel you want to visit. Not every brothel shares this publicly, so you may need to contact them directly. 

The next step is to book your session; upon arrival, payment is taken upfront. Sessions are typically offered in 30-minute or 60-minute increments. However, longer sessions are also offered for the right price. 

Consumers will be escorted to a private room where their sex doll will be ready and waiting. For hygiene reasons, condoms are given and must be used. 

There are typically no rules as to what goes on between the customer and the sex doll, provided the sex doll is returned in the same condition it was received.

The cost of visiting a sex doll brothel

When Italian business Lumidolls was open, customers were charged €80 (£72) for a 30-minute session. 

Aura Dolls was a 24-hour sex doll brothel in North America, and they charged $80 for a 30-minute session with one doll and $960 for 4 hours with two dolls. 

Greenwich’s Dolly Parlour used to charge £50 per 30 minutes, £75 per hour, and £130 for 2 hours. 

During its time in Scotland, Date A Doll was charging £70 an hour. 

For consumers, these prices are significantly cheaper than purchasing their own sex doll or sex robot, which typically costs a few thousand pounds. 

What does the future hold for sex doll brothels?

Stigma aside, the interest surrounding sex dolls and sex doll brothels doesn’t seem to be dying down. Manufacturers of these realistic love dolls certainly won’t be going out of business anytime soon. Sex doll brothels, however, will still need to fight to stay afloat.

Police and local authorities will jump on the first legal leg they can leverage to close brothels down. Essentially, brothel owners will need to stay squeaky clean, comply with legal and health requirements, and keep negative media attention at a minimum if they wish to prosper.

Sex doll consumers appear to be growing in numbers, so it appears that sex doll brothels are also here to stay – location to be determined. 

Image Sources: Unsplash

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