Project Outline: SEX:AI-Study

SEX:AI: Sexuality and Artificial Intelligence

 

Research Aim

This social science research project aims to investigate the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) tools on human sexuality.

The focus is on the sexuality-related use of generative AI tools in the everyday lives of young people and adults in different contexts such as:

  1. AI-generated sexual information,
  2. AI-supported sexual counseling and therapy,
  3. AI-powered romantic and sexual intimacy, and
  4. AI-generated erotica and pornography,

But it is also about the use of AI tools in sexual research, for example to support researchers in study planning, in the creation of survey instruments and experimental stimuli, and in data analysis.

 

Research ethics

For individual studies within the scope of the project, an ethics vote is obtained from the ethics committee of the TU Ilmenau.

 

Methodology

Various social science research designs and data collection methods are used, such as

  • Qualitative and quantitative manual content analysis,
  • Qualitative and quantitative surveys,
  • Computational studies and
  • Experimental studies.
 

Scientific Relevance

The project aims to help close existing research gaps on the significance of AI for human sexuality. This includes results on knowledge and attitudes, experiences and effects among users as well as characteristics of AI-generated sex-related content.

 

Practical Relevance

Project results can inform different fields of practice: They can help people in everyday life to better understand their personal sexual experiences with AI. They can provide sex education and sex therapy with suggestions for integrating AI tools into their professional work. They can educate policymakers about how AI should be regulated in the interest of sexual and reproductive health on an individual and collective level. They can inspire AI development to take greater account of sexual and reproductive health aspects. They can provide journalism with a basis for evidence-based reporting on AI and sexuality.

 

Funding

Self-financed

 

Project Duration

from 2024

   

Publications

In preparation:
  • Döring, N., Mikhailova, V., & Mohseni, M.R. (in press). Prevalence of AI-Supported Sexual Activities Among Adults in Germany: Results from a National Online Survey. Archives of Sexual Behavior (Special Section on Artificial Intelligence and Sexuality). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-025-03382-1
  • Döring, N. (in press). AI-Generated LGBTQ+ Media Content: Opportunities and Challenges. In M.-J. Masanet & M. T. Soto-Sanfiel (Eds.), The Routledge Companion on LGBTQ+ Media. New York: Routledge.
  • Döring, N., Vowels, L., Vowels, M., & Marcantonio, T. (Eds.) (in preparation). Artificial Intelligence and Sexuality. Special Section in Archives of Sexual Behavior. https://link.springer.com/journal/10508/updates/27497494
 
Published
  • Le, T. D. & Döring, N. (2026). Perspectives on Non-Consensual Deepfake Pornography: A Content Analysis of Reddit Discussions Initiated by Perpetrators, Victims, and Bystanders. Sexuality & Culture. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-026-10566-x
  • Döring, N., Le, T. D, & Miller, D. J. (2025). Experiences with AI-Generated Pornography: A Quantitative Content Analysis of Reddit Posts. Archives of Sexual Behavior (Special Section on Artificial Intelligence and Sexuality). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-025-03227-x  
  • Döring, N., Le, T. D.,  & Miller, D.  (2025). Cyberpornography. In M. Wright (Ed.), Research Handbook on Cyberpsychology (Chapter 5, pp. 149-167). Edward Elgar Publishing.
  • Döring, N. (2025). Sexuelle Vielfalt: Fortschritt oder Rückschritt durch Online-Plattformen und Künstliche Intelligenz? [Sexual Diversity: Progress or Regression through Online Platforms and Artificial Intelligence?]. In C. Bünger, C. Grabau, K. Jergus, & M. Thuswald (Eds.). Jahrbuch für Pädagogik 2025: Sexualität und Bildung - Gesellschaftskritische Einsätze (S. 140-154). Beltz.
  • Döring, N. (2025). Liebe und Sexualität in Zeiten in Zeiten von Pornhub, TikTok und ChatGPT. Herausforderungen und Chancen für junge Menschen [Love and sexuality in the age of Pornhub, TikTok, and ChatGPT: challenges and opportunities for young people]. In C. Mandrysch & M. Deversi (Eds.), Unsichere Zeiten, starke Stimmen. Junge Menschen als Wegbereiter für Vielfalt und Demokratie (S. 70-77). Sonderband 2025 von TUP (Theorie und Praxis der Sozialen Arbeit). Beltz Juventa.
  • Döring, N. (2025). „Hey ChatGPT, kannst du mir helfen?“ Beratung durch KI aus Sicht der Ratsuchenden [“Hey ChatGPT, can you help me?” – How people seeking advice experience AI-based counselling]. Pro Familia Magazin, Nr. 4/2025, 5-9.
  • Döring, N., & Mohseni, M. R. (2025). Anti-AI Bias Toward Couple Images and Couple Counseling: Findings from Two Experiments. Archives of Sexual Behavior (Special Section on Artificial Intelligence and Sexuality). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-025-03318-9
  • Döring, N. (2025). Das "Sex:AI"-Projekt: Zur Bedeutung Künstlicher Intelligenz für die sexuelle Gesundheit [The ‘SEX:AI’ Project: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Sexual Health]. FORUM Sexualaufklärung und Familienplanung: Informationsdienst des Bundesinstituts für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), 1, 128–131. https://doi.org/10.17623/BIOEG_SRH:forum_2025-1_sex-ai  
  • Döring, N. (2025) . "Hey ChatGPT, woher weiß ich, ob mein Freund mich liebt?" Sexualaufklärung per KI-Chatbot ["Hey ChatGPT, how do I know if my boyfriend loves me?" — Sex education via AI chatbot]. Campus Schulmanagement 31.7.2025. https://www.campus-schulmanagement.de/magazin/hey-chatgpt-woher-weiss-ich-ob-mein-freund-mich-liebt-nicola-doering
  • Döring, N. (2025). Sexualität im digitalen Zeitalter – Chancen durch Internet und Künstliche Intelligenz [Sexuality in the Digital Age – Opportunities through the Internet and Artificial Intelligence]. Verhaltenstherapie & Psychosoziale Praxis 57(2), 212-223.
  • Döring, N. (2025). Synthetische sexuelle Bilder: Zwischen Angst und Lust [Synthetic Sexual Images: Between Fear and Pleasure]. In K. Lobinger (Hrsg.), KI-Bilder und synthetische Bilderwelten – Zwischen visueller Täuschung, kreativen Chancen und kommunikativer Verantwortung. Ein Debattenschwerpunkt mit Beiträgen von Alexander Godulla, Stephanie Geise, Franziska Oehmer-Pedrazzi, Nicola Döring und Christian Schwarzenegger. AVISO – Interner Informationsdienst der DGPuK, 1/2025. Link to Jourrnal
  • Döring, N. (2025). Zu viele Zähne und zu wenige Finger!? Kommunikationswissenschaftliche Tagung über KI-generierte Bilder im November 2024 in Bremen [Too Many Teeth and Too Few Fingers!? Communication Science Conference on AI-Generated Images in November 2024 in Bremen]. Zeitschrift für Sexualforschung, 38(1), 51-52. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2512-8710
  • Döring, N. (2025). Jugendsexualität und Künstliche Intelligenz. Empfehlungen für die Sexual- und Medienpädagogik [Youth Sexuality and Artificial Intelligence. Recommendations for Media and Sex Education]. merz | medien + erziehung, 69(1), 53-64. https://doi.org/10.21240/merz/2025.1.14
  • Döring, N., Le, T., Vowels, L., Vowels, M., & Marcantonio, T. (2025). The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Human Sexuality: A Five-Year Literature Review 2020-2024. Current Sexual Health Reports, 17, 1-39.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-024-00397-y
  • Döring, N. (2024). Liebe und Sexualität in Zeiten von Internet und Künstlicher Intelligenz [Love and Sex in the Age of the Internet and Artificial Intelligence]. PiD Psychotherapie im Dialog, 25, 35-40. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2192-1066
  • Döring, N. (2023). Fifty Shades of ChatGPT: Aktueller Diskussions- und Forschungsstand zu Sex und künstlicher Intelligenz [Fifty Shades of ChatGPT: Current State of Discussion and Research on Sex and Artificial Intelligence]. Zeitschrift für Sexualforschung, 36(03), 164-175. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2142-9527
   

https://www.tu-ilmenau.de/mpmd/research/sexai