Over 150,000 People Signed Up to Masturbate With AI. Here's Why
Joi AI offered $2,000 each to 10 people to test a guided masturbation feature, expecting modest interest, but the post went viral and drew more than 150,000 applications. The company had to create a formal selection process and chose a diverse group for a month-long study starting July 1. Participants complete daily surveys on stress, mood, loneliness, sleep, self-esteem, screen time, and cravings, and then evaluate the experience. The project sits within a fast-growing AI companion market that mixes romance, role-play, and adult content. Joi says many users arrive for explicit features but stay for conversation and emotional support, reflecting rising interest in AI-assisted intimacy amid loneliness. Some participants said they joined out of curiosity, payment, or a desire to explore intimacy and build confidence. Joi frames the study as research into whether masturbation can be part of a healthy wellness routine and whether AI companionship can reduce loneliness.
