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Cutting-edge tech, conservative ideals, gen AI companions lead the way

Before today's newsletter, I want to let you in on a secret. I’ve been building something new: the Future of Sex Industry Hub. It's 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.

Before I launch, I'm looking for some early users to kick the tires and help me ensure everything is working as expected.

If that sounds like you, click here to be the first to know.

👋 HEY ALL!

I'm headed to South Korea next week, and the conservative culture meets cutting-edge tech environment has my head spinning.

What’s happening in South Korea this week? Check this out:

  • The Seoul government announced it had developed anti-sex crime technology, using AI deep learning facial recognition technology

  • The Cartier Women’s Initiative awarded South Korean SAIB & Co. a fellowship, making it the first sexual health co. ever to receive in 17 years.

  • If AI hasn't already got you thinking about this, “What Things Dream About” at National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea explores the idea of object as beings that create (and dream) with us.

Next month, I'm preparing a series of talks about AI, technology, relationships ...and how these all connect to our future ...so this side quest to Seoul feels like a timely and wondrous place to take a pause and ponder.

Of course, there's always plenty of internet pondering going on for me, and that includes an endless supply of AI updates.

I've included two articles which stood out, most notably the latest research from Andreessen Horowitz that includes this eye-popping stat:

'8 out of the top 50 new generative AI consumer web products are companionship or AI relationship apps, with significant search volumes for terms like “AI girlfriend”

Read on for:

🔥 this week in sextech

💼 job openings

🎪 community events

— Bryony

🔥 THIS WEEK IN SEXTECH

  • 🤖 Are AI companions healthy?

  • 🔍 South Korea's war on digital sex crimes

  • 🏆 SAIB & Co. Makes History with Cartier Women’s Initiative

🤖 Are AI companions healthy?

AI companions are indeed popping off: 8 out of the top 50 newcomer generative AI consumer web products are companionship/AI relationship apps. [Source: a16z]

As of May 2024, data from WordStream’s free keyword tool finds that the term “AI girlfriend” alone has a search volume of 135,000 per month in the US.

The Popularity and Pitfalls of a Virtual Friend or AI Partner

Techopedia looks at why virtual companions and AI girlfriends are becoming more popular during the loneliness epidemic.

As the epidemic of loneliness continues, Tony Prescott, professor of cognitive robotics at the University of Sheffield proposes AI companions may help scaffolding feelings of self-worth and help maintain or improve social skills... Read his opinion and other (more cautious) experts in The Guardian 👇

Could AI help cure ‘downward spiral’ of human loneliness?

One computer scientist says we should embrace human-machine relationships, but other experts are more cautious

🔍 South Korea's war on digital sex crimes

From the chilling saga of the Nth Room scandal, documented in the Netflix series Cyber Hell, to this week's arrests of individuals using tech to create deepfakes of uni students, the country has been grappling with a dark underbelly of digital exploitation.

ICYMI: The Nth Room case; between late 2018 and 2020, was a network of chatrooms distributing sexually exploitative content featuring South Korean women, which was eventually discovered on Telegram.

How a group of young women teamed up to expose the most depraved corner of the internet

Two South Korean university students helped police break up one of the largest digital networks of sexual slavery in South Korea. But to get there, they had to spend months immersed in a harrowing online world that continues to haunt them years later.

This week, two students at SNU were arrested on charges of creating deepfake content involving 48 female students and alums.

The crime was uncovered by Won Eun-ji, half of the female duo dubbed Team Flame that investigated and exposed Nth Room just a few years back.

SNU grads arrested for fake pornography of women on campus

Two graduates of the Seoul National University (SNU) were arrested on charges of creating and distributing sexually explicit content involving dozens of younger female students and alums, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Tuesday.

But amidst this grim reality, there's a glimmer of hope: the nation's proactive measures, including new laws and this week's announcement of AI tech to detect illegal content 24/7 👇

Seoul develops AI technology to fight digital sex crimes against children

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said, Wednesday, that it has developed artificial intelligence (AI) surveillance technology capable of identifying and detecting digital sexual exploitation content targeting youth. The city government believes the technology's introduction will help combat digital crimes against children automatically on a 24/7 basis.

🏆 SAIB & Co. Makes History with Cartier Women’s Initiative

SAIB & Co. (that's bias backwards) is the first and only company working in the Sexual Health space to be recognized by Cartier Women’s Initiative award out of 330 fellows over the past 17 years.

I love this video of Jiwon Park's story and mission, challenging the patriarchy and paving the way for women and South Korea's sexual wellness industry. And Cartier awarding businesses in this category is a great signal 👏

[Video] Cartier Women’s Initiative

Meet #CWI24 fellow Jiwon Park, Founder & CEO of SAIB & Co. “Female sexuality is a taboo subject in Korea,” says Jiwon Park, founder and CEO of SAIB. The… | 15 comments on LinkedIn

💼 HOT JOBS

🇫🇷 Global Brand & Marketing Manager, Meetic [Apply]

🇬🇧 Affiliate Marketing Executive, Lovehoney Group [Apply]

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

🇬🇧 Sexual Health Adviser, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [Apply]

🇱🇹 Senior Product Manager (Stories), Flo Health Inc. [Apply]

🇰🇪 Senior Program Manager, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. [Apply]

🇹🇿 Programme Analyst Sexual and Reproductive Health, UNDP Careers [Apply]

🎪 EVENTS

💻 May 30, A Fireside Chat with Mehgan Sapphire, hosted by the FlyDuo . and an event by SexTech n' Chill [RSVP]

🇺🇸 June 4, New York, S*xtech Mixer NYC [RSVP here] with Elizabeth Dell and DJ Rusheed

🇬🇧 June 5, London United Kingdom, Deep Dive into Daily Disgusts, Talking Taboos Foundation [RSVP]

🇺🇸 June 12-15, Missouri USA, AASECT 2024 Annual Conference American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) [RSVP]

🇺🇸 July 4-7, New Jersey USA, The Eulenspiegel Society (TES) Fest 2024 [RSVP]

How am I doing?

I'm always looking for feedback. Is there anything you'd like to see more of or less of?

Which aspects of the newsletter do you enjoy the most?

Until next week,

— Bryony

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