The sex toy market is booming, and with AI, sex toys are more realistic than ever. Thanks to teledildonics and haptic technology, virtual sex feels closer than ever. VR porn and sexbots can be a healthy component of your sex life. They may help you learn more about your erectile dysfunction, performance anxiety, anorgasmia, or even if you want to experiment sexually with other genders or fetishes that you’ve fantasized about. It’s a tool that can help you discover and explore yourself without hurting other’s feelings in the process. It can all be a little overwhelming, so here’s what you need to know.
Sexbot 101
Robots made for sex are the latest iteration of sex dolls, and for many, they are still a controversial invention. These robots help people have sex-adjacent experiences, keep loneliness at bay, and take the pressure off performance. They may help serve as a practice run for those who are too anxious to have their first time with a human. Thanks to AI, now you can have full conversations with them. Sex robots can learn about you, and you can even edit their personalities. They can be programmed from head to toe, attuning their erotic interests to yours. They also bridge the gap between therapy and sex work. If a client wants to practice the skills they learn in sex therapy but aren’t ready to interact with someone with whom the stakes are high, sexbots can help them reach their goals.
Tech and the Human Connection
Some worry that sexbots will replace human relationships. Dystopian books and movies have foreshadowed grim futures where the species is dying off due to a lack of sexual relationships between humans. Theoretically, the idea of a partner whose mood you could alter, whose body you could create to be exactly your type is tempting. But so far, sex tech has not replaced human connection. While some people who aren’t as interested in human connection may feel sated by AI sex aids, most people still crave the surprise and nuance that comes from sex with another person. When vibrators became more popular and socially acceptable for people with vulvas to use, the concern was raised that they may replace real-life relationships. Yet, most people only use vibrators in addition to or to augment sex with their partner.
If you want to learn more about adding sex toys to your relationship, check out my YouTube video below:
Sex Tech Stigma
Our culture has pathologized a lot of tech-driven solutions to sex problems, but that doesn’t mean they’re not effective. On the contrary, they can work wonders for the people who use them. It’s also sometimes considered inferior to real-life connection. However, tech-based connections can help people who may not be able to leave the house or have trouble creating real-life connections have sexual experiences they otherwise wouldn’t. It can also help people who have healthy sex lives learn more about their sexual blueprint and why they like what they like. Having sex virtually is as valid as having it in real life—but our culture has some catching up to do on that front.
Keep It Healthy
There are some good questions to ask yourself to find out whether your AI sex tech use is healthy or unhealthy. For starters, is it helping you connect with others or driving you further into isolation? If you find that you are isolating yourself, it may be time to reconnect with your real-life loved ones again.
In general, people tend to use tech safely. In fact, therapy sometimes involves tech to help people reach their goals. Using VR for therapy-related purposes isn’t new. It’s a way to expose people to phobias safely and help them come to terms with their fears. It’s also a way to help work through depression, addiction, or even PTSD. And it can be helpful in the bedroom, too.
Contact me for a free consultation today.
Bio: Dr. Nazanin Moali is a clinical psychologist and sex therapist in the Los Angeles area. She works with various individuals to understand and improve their sexuality. Dr. Moali conducts personal consultation sessions in her Torrance and Hermosa Beach offices, or via a secure, online video-counseling platform. Click here to take the sex quiz for women.