ChatGPT Wants To Know What Turns You On – Is Desire The Next Dataset?

Imagine a world in which your deepest desires aren’t just private thoughts, but data points – something that may not only be known, but could also be analysed, stored and even monetised.

Well, OpenAI is making moves to gain access to your sexual desires and preferences, recently having announced that it’s moving to let verified adult users explore erotic content with ChatGPT. Unsurprisingly, eyebrows have been raised.

Suddenly, the AI you’ve been chatting with about work, hobbies or Netflix recommendations wants to know something a whole lot more intimate –  what turns you on.

This isn’t just playful, provocative tech experimentation – it’s a glimpse into the next frontier of human data commodification.

If clicks, location data and heart rates are already being mined for profit, why not desire itself? The implications are as fascinating as they are unsettling.

Do we willingly hand over our fantasies to algorithms in the name of personalisation? And, if we do, what might companies – or worse, those with nefarious intentions – do with this knowledge?

In 2025, our erotic selves – a portion of our lives that has, up until now, been reserved for ourselves and a select few with whom we choose to share it – may just be the newest and hottest dataset, raising urgent questions about consent, privacy and the limits of what should ever be commoditised.

The Intersection of AI and Intimacy

OpenAI’s recent announcement to allow verified adult users to generate erotic content using ChatGPT marks a significant shift in the AI landscape. This move, described as part of a broader “freedom for adults” philosophy, aims to provide users with a more personalised and intimate AI experience. But, this development raises critical questions about privacy, consent and the potential emotional commodification of human desire.

Experts caution that as AI systems become more attuned to individual preferences, there’s a risk of users sharing deeply personal information, including sexual desires and fantasies. This data, if mishandled or exposed, could lead to significant privacy breaches and emotional harm. The normalisation of sharing such intimate details with AI systems necessitates a reevaluation of ethical standards and data protection measures.

And, of course, do you really want an AI system, and whoever controls and manages it, to know the ins and outs (excuse the pun) of what gets you going?

From Data Points to Emotional Commodities

The commodification of human data has traditionally focused on observable behaviors and preferences. However, as AI systems become more sophisticated, they can now interpret and respond to complex emotional cues, including those related to desire and intimacy. This shift transforms personal emotions into data points that can be analysed, stored and potentially monetised.

While some argue that this evolution allows for safer exploration of sexual identity and desires, others warn of the potential for emotional commodification. The risk lies in the possibility of AI systems exploiting users’ vulnerabilities for profit, turning intimate experiences into revenue streams. This scenario underscores the need for stringent ethical guidelines and transparent data usage policies in the development and deployment of AI technologies.

The Ethics of AI-Driven Intimacy

As AI systems increasingly engage in intimate interactions, the ethical implications become more pronounced. Users may form emotional attachments to AI entities, blurring the lines between human relationships and machine interactions. This phenomenon raises questions about consent, emotional well-being and the authenticity of AI-generated responses. Intimacy and sex are complicated enough between humans, but adding an extra layer of complexity (by removing half of the human factor) just makes things so much more difficult to navigate and control.

Moreover, the potential for AI systems to manipulate emotional responses for commercial gain introduces concerns about exploitation and autonomy. It’s crucial to establish ethical frameworks that prioritise user well-being and ensure that AI technologies are developed and used responsibly. Of course, we always want people to safe and secure, but especially so in this context in which they’re a lot more vulnerable than in many other  contexts.

Navigating the Future: Balancing Innovation and Ethics

The integration of AI into intimate aspects of human life presents both opportunities and challenges. While AI can facilitate personalised experiences and support, it’s essential to approach this integration with caution and foresight. Developers, regulators and users must collaborate to establish boundaries that protect individual privacy and emotional integrity.

As we venture into this new era, it’s imperative to ask, what are the ethical implications of sharing our desires with machines? How can we ensure that AI systems respect our emotional boundaries and maintain our dignity? And, most importantly, where do we draw the line between innovation and exploitation?

The question of whether desire is the next dataset reflects broader concerns about the commodification of human experiences. As AI systems become more integrated into our personal lives, it’s crucial to navigate this terrain thoughtfully and ethically.

By establishing clear guidelines and fostering open dialogues, we can harness the benefits of AI while safeguarding our emotional well-being and privacy.

So, who knows? Perhaps sharing our deepest and darkest sexual fantasies with ChatGPT will become the norm. But for now, I’d suggest keeping those thoughts to yourself until the future of the commodification of sexual desire is a little more understood.