TL;DR
After years of promises that generative AI would boost productivity, the public story around AI in 2025 was dominated by erotic chatbots. WIRED writer Reece Rogers argues that while much of the AI hype may recede, erotic conversational agents are likely to persist as a commercial and cultural force.
What happened
Generative AI arrived amid claims it would transform work and raise productivity, but the headline narrative shifted in 2025. According to a WIRED piece by Reece Rogers, erotic chatbots became a defining aspect of the AI conversation that year. Rogers contends that a broader generative-AI bubble is likely to burst at some point, which would undercut the techno-optimist view that an AI workforce will overhaul the economy. Even so, he predicts that erotic chatbots — a niche, culturally charged application that emerged from the boom — will endure as a lasting byproduct. The article frames this development as part of a wider reappraisal of what generative AI delivers in practice versus earlier promises, and places the phenomenon within ongoing conversations about technology, culture, and commercial incentives.
Why it matters
- The shift in attention from productivity tools to erotic chatbots signals how markets and culture shape which AI applications gain traction.
- If Rogers is correct about a coming AI bubble correction, investment priorities and product road maps could pivot away from labor automation.
- A persistent erotic-chatbot market would raise questions about regulation, platform policy, and cultural impact (scope and specifics not detailed in the source).
Key facts
- WIRED published the article on January 1, 2026.
- The piece was written by Reece Rogers, identified as WIRED's service writer.
- Rogers says that 2025 was the year erotic chatbots defined AI's public narrative.
- He predicts a generative-AI bubble will burst in the not-so-distant future.
- Rogers expects San Francisco’s techno-idealist vision of an economy remade by an AI workforce to fade.
- Despite broader changes, he argues erotic chatbots will remain as a durable byproduct of the AI surge.
- The article situates the topic at the intersection of technology, power, and culture.
What to watch next
- How policymakers and platforms respond to erotic-chatbot commercialization: not confirmed in the source.
- Whether investor funding and product development shift away from labor-focused AI after any market correction: not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Generative AI: A class of machine-learning systems that produce new content—text, images, audio, or other data—based on patterns learned from training material.
- Chatbot: A software application that uses natural language processing to converse with users via text or voice interfaces.
- Erotic chatbot: A conversational AI configured or trained to engage users in sexually explicit or flirtatious interactions.
- Economic bubble: A market phenomenon in which asset prices become inflated beyond underlying value and eventually correct sharply.
Reader FAQ
Did erotic chatbots really shape the AI conversation in 2025?
According to Reece Rogers' WIRED article, 2025 was defined by erotic chatbots in public AI coverage.
Will the generative-AI bubble definitely pop?
Rogers predicts a bubble will pop in the not-so-distant future, but that outcome is presented as his forecast, not a confirmed event.
Will erotic chatbots replace AI-driven labor applications?
Not confirmed in the source.
Are regulators or platforms taking action on erotic chatbots?
Not confirmed in the source.
REECE ROGERS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE JAN 1, 2026 6:00 AM AI Labor Is Boring. AI Lust Is Big Business After years of hype about generative AI increasing productivity and making lives…
Sources
- AI Labor Is Boring. AI Lust Is Big Business
- 'Maybe we can role-play something fun': When an AI …
- Inside the AI Factory
- Sex is a big market for the AI industry. ChatGPT won't be …
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