From The San Francisco Standard · · 3m
SlutCon: Flirting Boot Camp for Awkward Men
Men paid up to $18,000 to practice flirting with 'flirt girls' at a Berkeley AI safety event.
In brief
Men paid up to $18,000 to practice flirting with 'flirt girls' at a Berkeley AI safety event. SlutCon, a three-day flirting boot camp for awkward men, became a point of contention between Bay Area sex-positive tech culture and AI safety advocates. Originally reported by The San Francisco Standard.
SlutCon Workshop Begins
10 men and 2 women sat in a workshop titled 'So You’ve Been Called a Creep' led by Gretta Duleba, a Google engineer turned AI alignment researcher.
“It’s not an easy, kind word to throw around”
Flirt Girls and Training
95 'flirt girls' with green wristbands helped attendees practice flirting, while 59 received $500 after six hours of training.
“The whole philosophy of this event is to ask and to be able to handle a no”
Men Pay Up to $18,000
111 men and one woman paid between $3,000 and $18,000 for SlutCon, with higher fees granting more feedback and instruction.
“We want to provide healthy alternatives”
AI Safety Tensions
SlutCon exposed tensions between Bay Area's sex-positive tech culture and the AI safety movement, with critics calling it a sex cult.
“To say you’re not in a sex cult makes it sound like you’re in a sex cult”
Consent Rules
Green wristbands indicated women were open to flirting but not to kissing or touching, with strict no-contact rules for flirt girls.
“Guest lanyards were to be worn at all times, no meant no”
Flirt Girls' Perspectives
Flirt girls like Cassie and Amina Green shared experiences of feeling safer at SlutCon but also faced online criticism about their roles.
“I’m actually a lot less freaky than I thought”
Online Controversy
Critics accused SlutCon of being a prostitution front or orgy recruitment, with viral posts claiming it was a 'consensual rape orgy' for AI safety crowds.
“No CNC orgy took place, and no orgy took place”
AI Safety Concerns
Attendees included AI doomers worried about the future, with one saying they want kids even if they have only six to eight years to live.
“It’s very top of mind for the people who come to these sorts of things”
Women's Experience
Women attended SlutCon for various reasons, including learning about themselves, finding community, or giving feedback, with some feeling more comfortable than men.
“Oh God, I’m supposed to be here for the men, but actually, I’m enjoying my interactions with the women the most”
Event Consequences
SlutCon organizers added a women-only 'sapphic mingle' after demand, acknowledging the event's impact on women's safety and comfort.
“For them, this is a love letter to men and a way to heal gender relations”
Closing Ceremony
At the closing, organizers warned men not to take SlutCon's lessons literally when reentering the real world.
“Some of the stuff you learned here won’t translate directly don’t try it at the bar”
AI Safety Movement
The AI safety movement, with 60-year-old voters in Ohio, faces credibility challenges from SlutCon's association with sex-positive tech culture.
“It’s very much a double standard”
Flirt Girls' Training
Flirt girls received $500 after six hours of training on establishing boundaries and practicing rejection.
“I need practice just pushing that gradient”
Event Attendance
111 men and one woman paid between $3,000 and $18,000 to attend SlutCon, with higher fees granting more programming and feedback.
“The ratio of women is definitely a lot better”
Consent Rules
Green wristbands indicated women were open to flirting but not to kissing or touching, with strict no-contact rules for flirt girls.
“Guest lanyards were to be worn at all times, no meant no”
Online Criticism
Critics accused SlutCon of being a prostitution front or orgy recruitment, with viral posts claiming it was a 'consensual rape orgy' for AI safety crowds.
“No CNC orgy took place, and no orgy took place”
At a glance
SlutCon, a three-day flirting boot camp for awkward men, became a point of contention between Bay Area sex-positive tech culture and AI safety advocates.
