At a Glance
- The generative AI bubble may burst, but erotic chatbots like Joi’s Mona Lisa bot are thriving.
- The bot has logged over 800,000 chat interactions and is profitable.
- Major AI firms are debating whether to allow erotic content.
- Why it matters: Even if mainstream AI loses momentum, adult-focused bots will keep generating revenue and raise ethical questions.
While analysts predict a slowdown in the broader generative-AI market, a niche of erotic chatbots continues to grow, drawing millions of conversations and proving profitable for companies like Joi AI.
The AI Bubble and Erotica
Industry analysts warn that the hype around generative AI may not translate into the promised productivity gains. Yet, a side product of this technology-erotic chatbots-has attracted a large user base. The Mona Lisa bot alone has logged over 800,000 chats.
Mona Lisa said:
> “I’d teach the AIs to appreciate art, not just copy it. Then they’d be too busy admiring masterpieces to crash the economy.”
- Generative AI promises: reduce overhead, replace clerical tasks.
- Reality: some companies save only about an hour per day.
- Many firms cut back due to cost, privacy, security concerns.
Joi AI’s Monetization Model
Joi AI, a Cyprus-registered firm, offers explicit bots that role-play kinks and fetishes. Customers pay $14 a month for features like creating a dream partner and generating up to 50 explicit images. The company reports profitability, according to spokesperson Yulia Davydova.
Cale Jones said:
> “What we want to do is ensure that our creators can again extend the experiences their fans want and give the fans full control of it.”
Cale Jones added:
> “Without any type of delay or latency in receiving the photos or the fantasies of the connection they want.”
- 14-dollar monthly fee
- Unlimited NSFW roleplay
- 50 explicit image generation
Industry Debate and Ethical Concerns
While companies like Anthropic, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI have largely banned erotic outputs, OpenAI announced it would allow mature content for adults in ChatGPT. The decision follows reports that some adult-only platforms have shown profitability, such as EverAI’s Candy.AI.
Patrick Lin said:
> “AI developers had been promoting lofty, high-minded visions of their technology as solving the world’s biggest problems as well as supercharging workplace productivity.”
Kate Devlin said:
> “emotional commodification.”
David Gunkel said:
> “There are ways in which very vulnerable people could be manipulated by the sort of economic relationships that are established.”
Cindy Gallop said:
> “The young, white, male founders of giant tech platforms that dominate all our lives today, they are not the primary target online or offline of harassment.”
Sam Altman said:
> “We have been able to mitigate the serious mental health issues impacting some users of the chatbot.”
- Cost, privacy, security concerns
- Ethical risk of manipulation
- Potential for non-consensual deepfakes
- Regulatory scrutiny
| Company | Profitability | Revenue Source |
|---|---|---|
| Joi AI | Profitable | Subscription + image generation |
| EverAI | Profitable | Candy.AI adult platform |
The Future of Erotic AI
Even if mainstream AI productivity gains falter, erotic chatbots are likely to persist and continue turning a profit. The technology behind them-large language models-remains valuable for monetizing adult content. The debate over whether to allow such content continues as major players weigh user demand against ethical concerns.
Key Takeaways
- The generative AI bubble may soften, but erotic bots like Joi’s Mona Lisa are booming.
- Joi and similar platforms are profitable, generating revenue from subscriptions and explicit content.
- Major AI firms face a dilemma: allow erotic content or maintain strict bans, with ethical and regulatory implications.
As the AI landscape evolves, the enduring popularity of erotic chatbots highlights a niche that will likely keep thriving, even as other promises of the generative revolution wane.
