Are you intrigued by AI’s possibilities for the future, but find yourself struggling because of its potential for sucking you in with hyper-personalized sexual content? If so, you’re not alone, and I try to shed light on this potentially mind blowing subject in this week's offering. So please read on…

AI and Its Potential to Worsen Sex Addiction

We already live in a time where people can access virtually any topic or subject via the Internet, either text, audio, or visual form. Now that AI has given us the potential to generate any of this content on demand, its implications for the problem of sex addiction are practically boundless.

AI is No Better Than Those Who Use It

While the potential benefits of AI are tremendous, you need to exercise caution when it comes to pursuing your sexual desires. Its potential for the field of medicine, mental health, advanced problem-solving, and improving our lives are boundless. When it comes to the area of producing sexual content online, this creates a huge danger for individuals who are vulnerable to being drawn into an insular world of self-generated sexual content. Those who seek to exploit others by offering services with promises of endless gratification can hook people just like drug dealers who are trying to make a fortune from those vulnerable to drug addiction. There are also legal implications for using images of other people to generate that content that we are just starting to come to grips with, too.

AI and Replacing Reality with Fantasy

The big risk is that people will opt for fantasy sex partners instead of real relationship partners. I was just reading an article in the New York Times this morning that talked about this very subject, and how it can serve to further isolate people. It certainly can have its place in people's lives, but the risk again is more to those who are already prone to addiction and compulsive behavior. This can start very young with children who may stumble onto these apps and use them not realizing how powerful their draw is. These are some of the same kinds of individuals I work with who have suffered from long-term porn addiction because of being exposed to porn at an early age years ago.

What to do About AI’s Potential Damage

Considering your own values in the area of sexuality is important when deciding whether AI-generated sexual experiences are something that fits in with them. If it doesn’t, then setting limits and boundaries around your use of technology to prohibit using it for sexual purposes is very important.  If you haven’t even considered what your values in the area of sexuality are, then technology can be an important spur to do this ASAP. Talking with a trusted friend, family member, therapist or clergy member could also be an important way to clarify your own values here. Certainly putting limits on the use of technology with your own children would seem absolutely important. Nevertheless, making some decisions and trying to abide by them is an important way to decide on what is and is not acceptable for you and your life.

What If You Continue to Struggle with AI and Its Impact on Your Sexuality?

I’ve been helping my clients with sex addiction issues for my entire social work career, and I have special training and a keen ability to help people to recover from compulsive sexual behavior. If you think that you or a family member suffers with sex addiction of any type, then feel free to reach out to me by calling the number at the top of the page or filling out the form below if you live in Maryland or Texas. I will be happy to get back to you at my earliest opportunity to schedule a free consult to get a better idea of whether I can help you with your particular struggles. Whatever you do, please don’t waste time in addressing the problem, as AI and its ability to affect our lives is growing every day.

Visit our page on sex addiction therapy to find out how Scott can help you in dealing with AI’s affect on your sexuality.

About the author:  Scott Kampschaefer, LCSW is a private practice therapist in Frederick, Maryland.  He has an extensive background in working with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder at a clinic for older adults with these disorders in Austin, Texas.  He now works with adults and adolescents 14 and up in private practice. His most recent book is titled The 5 Pillars of Addiction Recovery and is available for purchase on Amazon and in paperback on this website.