Artificial intelligence and the exacerbation of desire: towards an ethical reflection

Sam Altman’s recent statement about the need for an “adult mode” in ChatGPT compels us to rethink the relationship between artificial intelligence, sexuality and the construction of desire in the digital sphere.

The rise of AI-generated pornography has not only transformed the way erotic content is produced and consumed; it has also reinforced visual and narrative patterns deeply rooted in the traditional industry. An analysis of the explicit images created by these models shows how they perpetuate stereotypes in which women are hypersexualised and the phallus is held up as the central symbol of pleasure and power.

The female body as an object of consumption

The prevalence of images of women with exaggerated proportions and in submissive poses reinforces objectification theory. AI, trained on databases that replicate these representations, amplifies the perception of women as objects of sexual consumption and narrows the exploration of more diverse narratives about desire.

From a critical perspective, this raises questions about sexual education in the digital age. What impact does access to this kind of representation have on the construction of expectations and interpersonal relationships? Earlier studies have noted that pornography can distort how adolescents and young people perceive sex, promoting sexist attitudes and reducing women’s autonomy in the sexual act.

The phallus as the centre of pleasure

From a psychoanalytic standpoint, the centrality of the phallus in these images recalls the theories of Freud and Lacan. The phallus, more than an organ, is a signifier of power and control. AI not only reproduces this hierarchy but intensifies it by generating images in which the sexual act is structured around penetration, leaving little room for a more equitable or diverse representation of female pleasure.

The commercial analysis of AI: desire or algorithm?

Beyond the content itself, the technical analysis of these images reveals a troubling tendency: the segmentation of audiences based on consumption stereotypes. The algorithms not only create hypersexualised images but also try to predict the buying habits, political leanings, religious beliefs and socioeconomic levels of those who consume this content.

The figures represented in these artificial environments are catalogued according to their supposed predisposition to consume products related to pleasure, luxury or appearance:

• For those seeking validation: erotic lingerie, personalised sex toys, dating apps.
• For the easily influenced: erotic virtual-reality experiences, subscriptions to exclusive content platforms.
• For luxury hedonists: exotic travel, designer clothing, premium gastronomic experiences.

This analysis lays bare how AI not only reproduces sexual narratives but also fosters models of consumption that reinforce these very structures of power and desire.

Where are we heading?

The generation of erotic content through AI opens the door to a host of ethical and philosophical questions. To what extent do these models reflect genuine human desires, and to what extent are they shaping new forms of desire out of data and market trends? Can we develop an AI that represents sexuality in a more diverse and less commercialised way?

While the technology offers innovative possibilities in the realm of sexual exploration and the representation of desire, it is also essential to analyse which discourses it is perpetuating, and in whose interests.

Is an erotic artificial intelligence possible that does not reproduce the very structures that have dominated the adult entertainment industry?