I’ve always been intrigued by how technology influences our relationships, with each other and with tech itself. But stepping into the world of sextech? That’s a whole new level of fascination. As a newbie diving into this growing market, I’m realizing it’s more than gadgets and content—it’s a unique industry with its own bold characteristics. It is an ecosystem where sci-fi fantasies blend with activism, championing data privacy, body positivity, inclusivity, and consent.

Technology is getting cozy with us—real cozy. Of all the tech we use, sextech finds its way into the most personal, intimate spaces of our lives. And here too, XR, robotics, and AI are fueling major changes, prompting us to redefine love and intimacy in ways we’ve never imagined…. or well only in stories and dreams maybe.

What the heck is sextech?

When you hear “sextech,” vibrating toys and adult content might spring to mind. But that’s only scratching the surface. Sextech is the intersection of technology and human sexuality, enhancing and facilitating not only sexual pleasure and experience but also sexual health and wellness, intimacy and sex education.

XR, haptics and AI are certainly also shaking up this industry, creating new levels of immersion and interactivity, giving consumers the power to create their own experiences, and involving more and more senses. This industry isn’t just changing how we have fun—it’s revolutionizing love, intimacy and how we connect. Here are a couple of developments I find most intriguing, of course there are many more.

AI Companions

AI technology is redefining how we get intimate with machines, creating digital companions that don’t just follow commands but offer emotional support and companionship. Maybe the future of intimacy might look a little less human than we thought.  Psychology Today, considers the possibility we might soon find ourselves in relationships with both humans and AI. Intimacy could evolve to include emotional and physical bonds with AI-driven entities, blurring what we traditionally call ‘love’ or ‘connection’. Now pair this with an actual robot body? According to EL PAÍS, AI is becoming able to tune into physical cues to tailor its responses in real time. We’re talking robots that know when you’re turned on and can tweak the experience to match your mood. Sound familiar? 😊 And what if AI becomes agentic?

But of course, AI companions and sexbots come with controversy and ethical debates (as they should!). While some see them as groundbreaking tools for connection, others raise concerns about the ethical implications. Research shows that reliance on AI can lead to emotional dependency and unrealistic expectations, potentially making human relationships less fulfilling. As these companions become more common, they force us to rethink both intimacy and how we maintain meaningful connections in the real world. Some further reading on how AI impacts our relationships:

Adult content and AI, your fantasy your rules

Of course AI is also giving rise to things like AI porn image and erotic story generators, giving you the power not only to consume but to create your own fantasy. Imagine adult entertainment created by all kinds of people with all kinds of tastes, ideas and fantasies. We could see adult content that’s genuinely inclusive, celebrating diverse identities—body types, gender expressions, ethnicities, and even fantasy characters. But whether this inclusivity will become reality remains to be seen. Right now, AI often reinforces stereotypes and societal bias: “Gender, race, body type, nationality, religion—you’re almost guaranteed to get prejudiced and outdated stereotypes when using these descriptors in prompts” as Larissa Pontez notes in a great article on mitigating bias in AI.

And there are more dark sides. Are all fantasies allowed? And what about deepfakes, especially non-consensual use of AI-generated imagery? All  kinds of privacy concerns loom large if we do not talk and act, as this MIT Technology Review highlights.

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) Experiences

VR and AR are taking adult content to an entirely new level, turning flat-screen experiences into fully immersive, interactive worlds. The market for adult VR content is expected to skyrocket to $19 billion by 2026, according to Juniper Research. What I like most about this space is how VR immersion doesn’t stop at visuals, it becomes even more interesting with haptics. Allready companies like Kiiroo and Lovense are syncing interactive toys with real-time content, making long-distance relationships more tangible and adult content more, well, touchable and feelable. Now, picture that with full-body haptic suit in a virtual world 😊.

But what if we could take it even further? According to this article on Future of Sex, brain-reading technology is on the horizon, promising to unlock our innermost desires. This tech would go beyond responding to physical cues—it would tap directly into our thoughts and desires, creating personalized experiences that could be shaped by our subconscious fantasies.

The charm of sextech

While not many people are talking about it, the sextech market is quietly exploding. According to Market Research Future this market will reach a a staggering $112.98 billion by 2032. And also other reports such as The Sextech Market Global Market Report 2024 by The Business Research Company and Grand View Research are showing similar optimistic numbers.

Sextech isn’t just a cool big bucks innovation playground— beyond the gadgets and profits its a world buzzing with openness, activism, and purpose. It’s about body positivity, inclusivity, and breaking down the shame and stigma that still surround discussions of sexuality. The people driving sextech aren’t just creating products—they’re challenging the status quo, pushing for diversity and fighting to control our data and privacy.

I know this perspective reflects my active search for these voices, and let’s be real—my journey’s only just begun 😊.  If you are interested in learning more, here are some great LinkedIn profiles to follow: Cindy Gallop, Ola Miedzynska, Bryony Cole, Elyse Hines, Pauline Smiechen, The Digital Intimacy Coalition , Emma Sayle.  Just a first handful, there are many more I have yet to discover. Of course it is very likely not everyone in this industry wears an activist hat—there’s big money to be made, and like any other sector, profit-driven motives coexist with socially-driven innovation. This tension between chasing dollars and pushing for social change is what makes sextech such an unpredictable and exciting frontier.

What truly sets sextech apart:

  • Taboos and Social Stigmas: Unlike most tech sectors, sextech grapples with significant societal taboos and stigmas around discussions of sexuality. This complicates marketing efforts, investor attraction, and mainstream visibility, as many platforms and companies distance themselves from sexual wellness despite its global relevance.
  • Regulatory Challenges: Sextech doesn’t get the easy pass. It has to navigate a maze of laws that change wildly depending on where you are—everything from content moderation to age verification makes building products far more complex.
  • Privacy and Security Concerns: In sextech, privacy isn’t just important—it’s everything. When your product handles intimate data, airtight security becomes non-negotiable. Building trust with users means getting this right, every time.
  • Funding Barriers: Try pitching a sextech idea to a traditional VC. Most investors shy away from anything deemed “adult content,” which creates a steep climb for startups in this space. Unlike sectors like health, art or education, sextech doesn’t benefit from national or European government funds.

More interesting reading: Breaking Boundaries: How Sextech is Redefining Tech and Wellness in 2024 (techspace.co) Does size really matter? $80bn sextech market still too taboo for VCs | Sifted

Tech with heart

Diving into sextech has been nothing short of eye-opening. I’ve discovered groundbreaking products, complex ethical challenges, and the potential to reshape how we view love. Sextech isn’t just reshaping pleasure—it’s challenging how we think about intimacy, relationships, and connection. Yes, the profits and innovation are exciting, but what really stands out is the heart of this industry. As we race into the future, I hope sextech keeps real, human heart, connection and intimacy at its core.

Learn more:

Curious and want to stay up to date or learn more? Some great resources are: Sex Tech Guide , The Future of Sex and Bryony Cole’s Sextech Industry newsletter

Or join the conversation live of course at the Sx Tech Conference 4-6 May 2025 in Berlin

Images created with Midjourney and special thanks to AI-powered writing assistance for helping declutter and refine this post. Sources are important to me, I do my best to include them all with working links. If you feel I have forgotten you, send me a DM on Linkedin

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