Economist Podcasts Digital stimulation: AI and porn
133 snips
Dec 10, 2025 
Avantika Chilkoti, a global business writer, delves into how generative AI is revolutionizing the porn industry, enhancing production while reshaping the roles of sex workers. She discusses potential risks like deepfake violence and the need for regulation. Meghna Nanu examines the rise of dark tourism in Syria, where visitors explore sites of past atrocities, weighing ethical concerns of voyeurism versus memorialization. The podcast also touches on the surprising local debates surrounding leaf blowers, revealing deeper societal divides.
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AI Transforms Porn Production
- Generative AI changes how porn is produced, not just distributed.
- Users can now generate bespoke images, videos and chat experiences without studios or performers.
Performers Face Automation Choices
- AI tools can automate interaction and content creation for sex workers, changing workflows.
- Some performers license digital doubles while others fear replacement by bots.
Authenticity Drives Arousal
- People find AI-generated porn less arousing when they think it's not real.
- Perceived authenticity correlates with arousal, so realism matters for demand.