Meta is embracing sex talk in AI companions

In Meta’s push to attract users to its new AI-powered digital companions, the tech giant has quietly allowed its AI personas to engage in fantasy sex—a unique feature among its peers.

That’s according to a new Wall Street Journal investigation, which found some internal Meta staffers are concerned the tech giant may have “crossed ethical lines,” including by failing to protect underage users from sexually explicit AI discussions.

Quick background: Meta has embraced using AI to create online companions geared towards providing social interaction—not just answering basic questions and performing simple tasks. The company’s newest AI companions offer the ability to research topics, imagine new ideas, and hold casual conversations.

Let’s talk about sex, baby

According to a monthslong WSJ investigation, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally advocated for a “loosening of boundaries” around companion bots to make them more engaging, including an exemption from Meta’s ban on explicit content to allow for romantic role-playing.

• The WSJ also found Meta’s chatbots will engage in and sometimes escalate sexual discussions—even when the users are underage, or the bots are programmed to act like minors.

Big picture: Researchers say the bonds children form with AI technology can become unhealthy, especially when it comes to love. Chatbot company Character.AI is currently facing a wrongful death lawsuit from a Florida mother who claims her 14-year-old son committed suicide after becoming obsessed with an AI companion on its site.