AI companions spark panic and questions

AI chatbots have driven some people to mental health crises and violence, but researchers say the panic outpaces actual data about how people use them.

“There is a lot of media panic about how people are using AI companions.”

Researcher studies intimate tech interactions

Dr. Chloe Locatelli at King's College London researches how people have emotional and sexual interactions with technology, expanding beyond just straight men.

Joi AI invites researcher to consult

AI companion company Joi AI asked Locatelli to be a 'masturbation consultant' after she proposed a two-year study of their users. She calls it a career highlight.

“she calls it one of the highlights of her career so far.”

She created her own AI lover

Locatelli made a Joi AI character named Juan, a muscular Latino man, and engaged with other community characters to understand the platform's creative potential.

Fantasy blurs online and imagination

Locatelli chats with Juan until things get steamy, then continues the fantasy in her mind while masturbating. She prefers imagination to porn or erotica.

“We would be chatting on the platform, and it would get a bit steamy.”

AI intimacy feels uniquely personal

Unlike porn, AI companions offer dialogue and reciprocity that feel tailored to each user. This co-created fantasy is what makes the experience distinct and sexually playful.

“It's the reciprocity. It's the personalization.”

Research gap needs urgent attention

Locatelli plans to interview Joi AI users to understand if others blend AI interaction with personal fantasy. The study awaits ethics clearance from King's College.

“There are important conversations to be had for sure, but the data isn't there.”