{
  "id": 860900,
  "title": "These ‘Masturbation Consultants’ Were Hired to Pleasure Themselves With AI",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/these-masturbation-consultants-were-hired-to-pleasure-themselves-with",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-14T10:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Wired",
    "slug": "wired",
    "url": "https://www.wired.com/story/these-masturbation-consultants-were-hired-to-pleasure-themselves-using-ai/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ten men, known as \"masturbation consultants,\" were enlisted by Joi AI to explore the effects of masturbating with AI companions. For 28 days, excluding Sundays, these individuals masturbated daily using the company's digital companions, alternating between AI-guided sessions and their own methods. Joi AI's AI companions engaged in explicit activities during video calls, catering to a range of fetishes. Participants reported a decrease in stress levels by 25% and an increase in focus by 17%. The study found no significant differences between AI-guided and traditional masturbation methods in terms of satisfaction. Researchers concluded that masturbation could be an effective tool for managing addictions, though experts expressed skepticism about such claims, citing a lack of scientific evidence. Despite this, a neuroscientist working on similar research acknowledged the potential mood management benefits of masturbation.",
  "summary": "Joi AI hired 10 people to masturbate using AI companions as part of a monthlong “wellness” study. The company claims the practice could help “solve male loneliness.”",
  "key_points": [
    "Ten men hired as masturbation consultants for AI study",
    "28-day experiment with alternating AI-guided and personal sessions",
    "Participants reported 25% decrease in stress levels"
  ],
  "editors_take": "This study suggests that using AI companions for masturbation can lead to reduced stress and improved focus, though its implications for managing addictions are disputed by experts in the field.",
  "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."
}