The online edition of Forbes, a magazine normally focused on business—particularly the business of being a rich person—veered into new territory this week, interviewing eight women who have pioneered various aspects of sexual technology, or “sextech” specifically for women. That is, “femtech.”
“Due to systemic bias in technology, current developments in AI and intimacy tend to not reflect the needs of women,” writes Forbes.com columnist Sandra Ponce de Leon. “This is where the categories of femtech and sextech come in. Femtech encompasses the usage of digital applications (software, medicines, products, and services) to improve women’s overall well-being, with sextech being more specific to sexual wellness and pleasure.”
But with the seemingly limitless, futuristic possibilities presented by fast-moving developments in artificial intelligence, sextech and femtech are also taking sexuality and intimacy into new dimensions for women. The entire Forbes.com article may be read at this link, but here are some of the key quotes from the femtech leaders who spoke to Forbes.
Adryenn Ashley, founder of the blockchain and AI-based dating app Loly, which aims to match prospective partners by “orgasmic compatibility.”
“In traditional dating apps, you present the best version of yourself which never leads to the best match. Using AI you can be more truthful and tell the app what you want, secretly really want. AI can even find the perfect match without the user feeling like they’ve disclosed something private to another person.”
Lidia Bonilla, pleasure coach and co-founder of Women of Sex Tech.
"No matter the technological advances, our bodies still need human touch. AI can counterbalance some of the effects of loneliness and help those who have a difficult time connecting with others. However, we have not evolved to the point where humans don’t need each other."
Vanessa Cuccia, founder of Chakrubs, sex toys made from natural crystal.
"Sextech is exciting because it can create solutions for people with disabilities and help the sex toy industry become more inclusive. ... With AI, we don't know yet if it will be able to offer emotional intimacy. However, I do think the possibilities of solving certain problems within the sex lives of many is quite intriguing."
Emily Sauer, founder of Ohnut, a wearable device designed to mitigate painful sex for women.
“I am particularly appalled that much of rehab specific AI ignores human progress and is instead dominated by male fantasy. Smart Sextech has the potential to educate and connect us offline, but the topic of 'rehabilitation' will continue to devolve into 'gratification' as long as toxic masculine company leadership dominates innovation in the field.”
Janet Lieberman-Lu, Chief Technology Officer abd co-founder of Dame Products, makers of the Eva hands-free vibrator.
“Sex dolls and sex robots are a pretty niche interest. They've been around for a long time, and while I don't believe there should be a stigma around buying or using them, no one should be worried that 20 or 50 years from now, they'll have replaced all human sexual interaction. If that were true, they'd already be more popular.”
Photo via Pixabay/Wikimedia Commons
