Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, and Pornography: How Misogyny Constrains the Future

Advancing technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) are often heralded as paths toward a better future. While AI and VR are demonstrating promise as tools for discovery and efficiency, they also are being employed in harmful ways.

That’s evident in how AI and VR are playing a role to perpetuate predatory practices on women and girls and amplify the societal harms of pornography. The inappropriate use of these innovative technologies is attracting new customers and new dollars to the pornography market, which now is estimated to generate more than $19 billion annually. The far-reaching effects of these technologies — on individuals and society as a whole — are outlined in a new research report from Culture Reframed, “Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, and Pornography: How Misogyny Constrains the Future.”

By making virtual sex the new reality of pornography, AI and VR are contributing to the industry’s growth in popularity and profits in numerous ways. AI allows users to fabricate sexual photos and videos, humiliate women through undressing or “nudifying” apps, and create sexbots, or “virtual girlfriends.” VR users can use their computer or three-dimensional headsets to interact with virtual fantasy worlds, where sexual harassment and virtual sexual assault are common.

Download the report to learn how the pornography industry is harnessing technology to weaponize sexuality: Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, and Pornography: How Misogyny Constrains the Future