The Present and the Future of AI-Generated Pornography
13m
Valerie Lapointe
Psychologist & Researcher
Trailer
Get AccessFull VideoWhat happens when artificial intelligence begins to reshape one of the most influential sectors of sexual culture? In this presentation, the lead author of The Present and Future of Adult Entertainment: A Content Analysis of AI-Generated Pornography Websites, Valerie Lapointe, explains what this transformation means for clinicians, educators, and researchers in sexual health.
Drawing on a systematic content analysis of 36 AI-generated pornography websites, the study offers one of the first empirical mappings of this rapidly evolving digital landscape. Rather than focusing solely on ethical debate or speculation, the research carefully examines the actual functionalities, production strategies, and customization options currently available. What emerges is a portrait of a new form of adult entertainment that is increasingly interactive, highly personalized, and shaped by user-driven input, from AI-generated images and videos to artificial erotic agents capable of ongoing exchanges.
In our conversation, the author reflects on why this research topic is important at this particular historical moment, how the study was conducted in a fast-changing technological environment, and what the most significant findings reveal about the ways AI may be reshaping erotic imagination and sexual engagement. We also explore the clinical implications of these developments: how growing accessibility, customization, and interactivity may influence sexual expectations, consent dynamics, relational patterns, compulsive behaviors, and the therapeutic conversations we are already beginning to encounter in practice.
For sexologists, therapists, and researchers, this interview offers a rare empirical window into a technological shift that is already influencing sexual culture, often faster than clinical discourse can keep up. If AI is reshaping how people imagine, create, and interact with sexual content, what does that mean for our clinical practice? Rather than offering alarmist conclusions, it invites nuanced consideration, encouraging us to approach technological change with curiosity, critical thinking, and clinical responsibility.
References:
Lapointe, V.A., Dubé, S., Rukhlyadyev, S. et al. The Present and Future of Adult Entertainment: A Content Analysis of AI-Generated Pornography Websites. Arch Sex Behav (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-025-03099-1
Lapointe, V. A., Dubé, S., Petit, A., Kessai, T., Rukhlyadyev, S., Gravel, V., & Lafortune, D. (2026). The governance of AI-generated pornography platforms: A content analysis. New Media & Society, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448261421873
Lafortune, D., Lapointe, V.A., Canivet, C. et al. “I Could Practice Flirting Without Pressure”: A Proof-of-Concept Study of an AI Chatbot-Assisted Intervention for Men Facing Distressing Involuntary Singlehood. Arch Sex Behav (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-025-03356-3
Produced in 2026
Valerie Lapointe
Psychologist & Researcher
Speaker
Valerie A. Lapointe is a PhD candidate in Psychology at the Université du Québec à Montréal, and is funded by the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture. She is also a student member of the International Observatory on the Societal Impacts of AI and Digital Technologies.
Her research examines how generative AI is reshaping sexuality and intimate relationships. Specifically, her work focuses on the social, psychological, and relational implications of AI-generated pornography and human-AI relationships, such as their effects on social isolation, well-being, consent, and sexual representations. She is also interested in the regulatory challenges posed by these technologies. She is actively involved in public conversations on these topics, having been featured in over 20 media outlets, including The Economist, CBC, TVA, and BRUT. As part of her work as research coordinator in the Laboratory on Virtual Reality, Sexotechnological Tools, and Sexual Health, she has also contributed to nearly a dozen projects exploring how virtual reality and artificial intelligence can be used to assess and treat sexual and romantic difficulties. Overall, her work has resulted in 15 publications in sexology and psychology journals and numerous presentations at national and international conferences.
Valerie is also a co-developer of the international conference on Sexuality and Generative AI (2026), which aims to bring together multidisciplinary perspectives to examine the risks, benefits, and pathways forward as generative AI becomes increasingly integrated into intimate life.