The Collision of AI Porn with Human Sexuality: Unpacking Ethical Concerns
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
6/6/20243 min read
At the end of last month, a set of four AI-generated images of women in bikinis went viral on Twitter. The user who posted them declared, "It is SO over," implying that AI would inevitably replace human-made pornography. However, the tweet quickly received widespread condemnation and ridicule, with many users pointing out numerous errors in the images, such as unrealistic fingers and teeth.
Amidst the backlash, Laura Lux, an OnlyFans model with over two million Instagram followers, penned a viral thread arguing that AI porn could never truly replace human sex workers. Lux asserted that fans subscribe to her OnlyFans not just to see explicit content, but to see her specifically, based on a parasocial relationship formed through social media.
Speaking to Fast Company, Lux elaborated that AI pornography—especially the kind attempting to create realistic human bodies—is inherently non-consensual. She pointed out that most AI-generated content utilizes online material without the consent of those depicted. This highlights a troubling reality: the primary allure of AI porn isn't to replace sex workers, but to create pornographic material of individuals who aren’t sex workers, often without their consent.
The Ethical Dilemma of Non-Consensual AI Porn
The issue of non-consensual AI porn extends beyond its technical feasibility to its ethical implications. Lux noted a disturbing trend of individuals expressing excitement over AI's potential to generate pornographic content of women they encounter in everyday life, like a barista or a colleague. She emphasized that addressing this problem would require global regulation, which is highly improbable.
Magdalene J. Taylor, a writer focused on sexuality and internet culture, concurred with Lux, suggesting that the market for AI porn is likely small. However, she warned that it signifies a more ominous shift in online harassment of women. The appeal lies in the ability to obtain sexual content without any actual involvement from women, perpetuating a form of dehumanization.
Despite platforms like Midjourney and OpenAI’s DALL-E 2 banning pornographic content, open-source tools such as Stable Diffusion enable the creation of explicit AI artwork. The bikini pictures that went viral on Twitter are just the tip of the iceberg. Communities like Unstable Diffusion, which has over 150,000 users, are dedicated to training more sophisticated AI models to generate pornography.
Generative AI and the Question of Theft
Beyond the ethical concerns, there's also a contentious debate about whether generative AI images constitute theft. Proponents of generative AI argue that these tools simply create approximations based on a vast array of existing images. Writer Ted Chiang likened this process to creating a blurry JPEG collage of every image on the internet. However, this collage-making can include specific photos of real individuals, effectively undressing them without consent.
The threat of AI-generated non-consensual pornography is not merely theoretical. High-profile incidents, such as Twitch streamer Brandon "Atrioc" Ewing viewing non-consensual deepfaked images of well-known female streamers, highlight the persistent and pervasive nature of this issue. Despite efforts to remove such content, the ability to generate new deepfakes ensures that the problem remains.
The Intimacy Conundrum
AI pornography’s potential to go mainstream is debated, with some arguing it cannot replace the parasocial relationships fans have with performers. Yet, AI-generated content often sexualizes users without their consent, as seen with Berit Glanz’s experience with the Lensa app, which generated topless images of her.
Technologist and writer Douglas Rushkoff suggests that AI porn represents a shift away from human-to-human intimacy, regurgitating societal stereotypes rather than creating original content. This shift is mirrored in the increasing popularity of algorithmic porn platforms like Pornhub, which enhance accessibility but can create dependencies.
The Dual Nature of AI Tools
AI chatbots like Replika, initially designed for companionship, have become popular for sexting. While some users develop emotional connections, others use it to fulfill sexual fantasies. This duality of AI—its potential to both connect and isolate—highlights its unpredictable impact on human emotions and relationships.
Conclusion
The debate around AI porn encompasses complex questions of consent, intimacy, and ethical use of technology. These tools, initially hypothetical, now interact with human emotions, with consequences both exciting and unsettling. AI mirrors human complexity, capable of both facilitating connection and causing harm. As AI continues to evolve, society must grapple with its ethical implications and strive for solutions that protect individual rights and dignity.
Original source: https://www.fastcompany.com/90849850/ai-porn-is-colliding-with-human-sexuality-and-raising-some-ethical-red-flags