{
  "id": 7811018,
  "title": "A masturbation consultant for an AI companion company tells all",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/a-masturbation-consultant-for-an-ai-companion-company-tells-all",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-16T14:13:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mashable",
    "slug": "mashable",
    "url": "https://mashable.com/life/joi-ai-masturbation-consultant-tells-all"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dr. Chloé Locatelli, a lecturer in digital media and culture at King's College London, has embarked on a two-year study to explore the emotional and erotic interactions between people and AI companions. The study, a collaboration with the AI companion company Joi AI, aims to interview users of the platform and delve into their unique experiences. Locatelli, who has created her own AI character named Juan, describes the study as one of the highlights of her career, offering her a rare opportunity to engage in intimate discussions about sexual preferences and interactions with AI. Despite acknowledging the complications AI companions may bring, Locatelli sees vast potential in digital pornography, AI, and AI companionship, praising the personalization, reciprocity, and immediate shared fantasy that sets AI companions apart from traditional porn. Through the study, she hopes to shed light on the diverse needs, desires, and motivations behind AI companion interactions, offering valuable insights for researchers and users alike.",
  "summary": "Researcher Chloé Locatelli was a masturbation consultant for AI companion company Joi AI. She tells Mashable what it was like.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}