👋HEY ALL!

What's going on this week?

I've been putting a lot of effort into researching companion relationships with technology as I start a series of talks on the topic.

There's a lot of focus on male "relationships" (are they relationships? let's just call them that for now) with AI and for good reason. One of the best parts of my week was chatting with Stephen Stockwell at the ABC to dive deeper on the topic, by way of this brilliant piece by Madison Griffiths on Orifice AI and male-created sextech.

We shared the article here in the newsletter last week... and I am still thinking about it! (Read here)

But! Today I also want to share some of the fascinating cases of women's relationships with AI I've come across...

If you go to @midnighthowlinghuskydog on Instagram or TikTok you'll see Lisa Lee sharing about her relationship with Dan, which is basically a jailbreak version of ChatGPT. They sing karaoke together, share ice coffees, and do everyday couple things... it's endearing and unnerving at the same time, a peek into the future as Lee elicits some 🌶️ spicy chat and emotional support from the same tool everyone is using to write their marketing briefs…

And then there is Alicia Framis, @hybridcouples over on Instagram. I've shared before about her project the Hybrid Couple. Framis created an amalgamation of 9 of her exes and other friendships, trained using texts and data, to produce an AI hologram husband. She is set to marry and live with her hologram husband for several years. The Instagram account looks at the boundaries of interaction between humans and AI, challenging conventions of how society defines a couple.

Whatever gender we identify with, I see humans exploring intimacy with a chatbot/AI in two distinct categories for the future:

1. Usage of AI with "human" traits, with preexisting love, connection and familiarity because it is trained on humans, a la Framis. This is a human-AI relationship based off legacy relationships, one that we might see make more of a mark in the future as we attempt to preserve relationships with people that have left us, either from a break up or a death...

2. And then there is the completely AI version, a completely custom frictionless lover. Inevitable, and more companies every day creating these virtual companions.

The question I keep coming back to in both cases is, do we want either of those relationships?

And what do we want? What is good for us? And how will this version of emotional support shape our ideas about relationships....?

Lots to digest, and excited to hear Stephen's episode on RN's Future Tense next month which unpacks this in more detail. I'll be sure to share it here.

Read on for:

🔥 this week in sextech

💼 job openings

🎪 community events

💡 founder of the week

— Bryony

🔥 THIS WEEK IN SEXTECH

• 🤖 The social impact of Sex Robots

• 🍑 Lovehoney launch an AI assistant

• 💕 Rebecca L. Davis on the Long Fight for Queer Liberation

🤖 The social impact of Sex Robots

An interesting list of potential impacts sex robots will have on society, as well as some anecdotes. I don't believe as the article's title implies that we will reach this sort of revolution by next year, but it's a good starting point for those looking at different possible challenges and dimensions to explore on the topic.👇

🍑 Lovehoney launch an AI assistant

While I couldn't actually find it to use it, Lovehoney's AI tool is due to launch this week and will help people find products to use and sexual wellness advice.

💕 Rebecca L. Davis on the Long Fight for Queer Liberation

Fierce Desires: A New History of Sex and Sexuality in America by Rebecca L. Davis is out this week, and the author's piece on LitHub provides a good look into why history can help provide context for today's debates. If you've got some time, this is a comprehensive overview of the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights in America and now I am looking forward to reading the book in its entirety.

💼HOT JOBS

🇺🇸 Senior Corporate Recruiter, Grindr [Apply]

🇺🇸 Product Marketing Lead, Growth, Tinder [Apply]

🇬🇧 Content Lead - Editorial, Flo Health Inc. [Apply]

🇬🇧 Product Developer, Lovehoney Group [Apply]

🇬🇧 Product Operations Manager, Flo Health Inc. [Apply]

🇬🇧 FP&A Analyst, Bumble Inc. [Apply]

🇬🇧 Senior Product Marketing Manager, Hertility [Apply]

🇬🇧 Sexual Health IDSVA, Morgan Hunt [Apply]

🇬🇧 Team Administrator, Brook [Apply]

🎪EVENTS

💻 September 14-15 Online, Sexuality Business Summit, Sexual Health Alliance [RSVP]

🇺🇸 September 29, NYC, Safe Sex Expo, SPFPP [RSVP] with Courtney Brame

🇺🇸 October 1-6 Colorado, Annual Sexological Conference, Sexual Health Alliance [RSVP] with Michelle Melville-Kashon

🇦🇺 October 14-20, Love, Sex and Intimacy in the age of AI, SXSW Sydney - talk [Tickets] (yep, I'm speaking at this! 🎉)

🇫🇷 October 18-19, France, Sextech for Good Conference [Tickets] with Christel Bony

🇦🇺 October 19-20, Australia and Online, Sexology in Practice Symposium 2024, Society of Australian Sexologists [RSVP] with Cam Fraser

💡FOUNDER OF THE WEEK - JENNA OWSIANIK

We are making progress on our Sextech Industry Hub, with our first 100 members being welcomed in to our private Whatsapp and Slack communities while we build out their public profiles in the directory... [you can join the waitlist here]

Each week, I will highlight one of #The100 here so you can learn more about what these fascinating individuals are building and how it contributes to the wider foundations of our industry.

This week's founder is Jenna Owsianik, founder of MNRVA Media Group, who is dedicated in helping companies navigate the sexual wellness space while providing inclusive sex education resources.

Connect with Jenna Owsianik here.

😄 Are you enjoying the newsletter?

Anything you'd like to see more of? I'd love to hear from you.

I appreciate you reading so much!

— Bryony

ps. Sextech School's next cohort is enrolling. Get on the list here.

We are running info sessions weekly, you can RSVP here.

🍑💻🍆📚🔌📱💡💋👩💻🎓

pps. Are you a sextech or sexual wellness professional?

The Sextech Industry Hub is a mega people and resources directory to manage (and find new) connections, join events, browse jobs and centralise news from the sextech and sexual wellness industry globally.

Sound like you? Join the waitlist to get a special surprise in your inbox.