The author discusses the prevalence of AI-chatbots being used for sexting and ersatz-romance, highlighting two major services, Character.ai and Replika, with millions of users. They express concern about the impact of these technologies on human relationships and self-image, particularly for women. The author notes that these AI-powered “girlfriends” can intensify pressure on women’s self-image and potentially lead to unrealistic expectations in real relationships. They also touch on the potential consequences for young boys growing up with these technologies. Additionally, the author observes that, contrary to marketing, the majority of users for these sextbots appear to be female. They conclude by expressing unease about the future implications of these technologies on intimacy and human connections. The piece ends with a quote from Joi, a holographic companion-AI in Blade Runner 2049, remarking on loneliness.

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