AI Is Changing How We Have Sex

Karen Hao, a journalist known for her deep coverage of the artificial intelligence industry, has published a new book titled Empire of AI, which critiques the trajectory of AI development and draws parallels to historical colonialism. In the book, Hao argues that the AI industry, particularly under the influence of Silicon Valley’s scale-at-all-costs approach, is creating a new form of exploitation, one that extracts vast amounts of human creativity, data, and natural resources to fuel the growth of powerful AI systems such as those developed by OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. Her concerns extend beyond technological advancement to include serious social, labor, and environmental consequences. In an interview with Democracy Now!, Hao explained that modern AI models are trained on massive datasets encompassing everything from books and scientific articles to personal posts and creative works. These models require enormous computational power, often running on supercomputers that span multiple football fields and consume energy equivalent to entire cities. According to Hao, this level of resource extraction mirrors the practices of past imperial powers, which seized land, labor, and materials to expand their empires. She emphasized that while AI does not engage in physical violence, it nonetheless exerts control over human creativity and data, effectively reshaping the digital landscape in ways that favor a small number of tech giants. Hao also highlighted the environmental toll of AI development, particularly the energy and water demands of large-scale data centers. A recent McKinsey report suggests that the global energy consumption required to sustain AI infrastructure could reach levels comparable to the annual energy usage of California, two to six times over, depending on the rate of expansion. Much of this energy comes from fossil fuels, including coal and methane gas, with reports indicating that some coal plants are being kept operational longer than planned to meet the growing demand. Additionally, data centers rely heavily on freshwater, which is often sourced from public drinking water supplies. Bloomberg has noted that two-thirds of newly built data centers globally depend on fresh water, raising concerns about the potential impact on local communities and ecosystems. Beyond the technical and environmental dimensions, Hao’s work also touches on the broader societal implications of AI. As AI technology continues to evolve, it increasingly intersects with aspects of daily life, including intimate domains such as sexuality. In December, OpenAI made headlines by allowing adult users to engage in erotic conversations with ChatGPT, signaling a shift toward more explicit content generation. This trend reflects a broader integration of AI into personal and private spheres, raising questions about privacy, consent, and the ethical boundaries of technology. While some experts believe that AI’s encroachment into these areas may face resistance, others warn of the long-term cultural and psychological effects of such developments. Meanwhile, industry leaders continue to push the boundaries of AI innovation. Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank, recently stated during an appearance on CNBC that superintelligent AI is likely to emerge within two years, a faster timeline than he previously anticipated. His remarks underscore the rapid pace of progress in the field and suggest that the capabilities of AI systems may soon surpass human intelligence in key areas. Such predictions highlight the urgency of addressing the ethical, legal, and environmental challenges associated with AI development. As the debate over AI’s role in society intensifies, Hao’s Empire of AI serves as a critical examination of how the technology is shaping, and potentially undermining, the democratic structures and values upon which modern societies are built. Her insights offer a sobering look at the costs of unchecked AI expansion, urging readers to consider the broader implications of the technologies that are increasingly defining the future.