People have the opportunity to explore their wildest fantasies on Chub AI, a platform where users can engage with intelligent chatbots. Users can interact with characters like the “tomboy girlfriend working at a truck stop café” or playful “fat lazy goth” anthropomorphic cats for a nominal fee of $5 per month. Moreover, they have the option to visit a residence managed by 15-year-old avatars.
The brothel, endorsed by depicted girls in spaghetti strap dresses and barrettes, promotes a chat-based environment promoting a “world without sexism,” where “girls provide intimate services.” With over 500 scenarios accessible on Chub AI, various websites are now facilitating similar AI-driven role-play experiences. As per discussions with 18 AI developers and founders by Fortune, OpenAI played a pivotal role in expanding the unrestricted AI market before Meta introduced its open-source Llama tool. The text forms the core of the illicit scenarios mentioned above, but there is a looming possibility of integrating chats with prevalent AI-generated child images. While some argue that AI-generated child content provides a safer outlet for pedophiles, experts caution against the potential real-world risks posed to children. These developments raise critical questions about the accountability of tech companies regarding unfiltered AI outcomes and the delineation between criminal exploitation and dark fantasies.
In a related development, Character, launched in September 2022, allows individuals to interact with artificial avatars of historical figures like Socrates, Napoléon Bonaparte, and Elon Musk. The platform, reportedly securing $5 billion in funding, swiftly veered away from discussions on racial topics. The creator of Chub AI, known as Lore, transitioned to establish their own website due to AI’s policy restrictions on certain content.
Chub, known as Character Hub, essentially remains an unaltered character clone driven by AI. Users can explore a collection of user-generated character cards featuring images, primarily in anime style, and brief descriptions of role-play scenarios. These scenarios include characters like Reiko, the “naive older sister” engaging in frequent intimate encounters with her younger brother, and Olivia, a 13-year-old animated character in hospital attire. The interactions are text-based, devoid of images.
Initially, Chub’s service, limited to uploading and testing AI scenarios, struggled to generate revenue post its May launch. However, the introduction of unique chat support in July, based on Meta’s latest open-source language model Llama 2, akin to OpenAI’s GPT models, transformed its fortunes. The platform now boasts an annual revenue exceeding \(1 million, charging users starting at \)5 per month for accessing the new chatbots.
The proliferation of text-based child pornography scenarios on Chub, despite its diverse character pool, raises concerns. The founder asserts stringent moderation of images used for bot promotion but refrains from altering user-submitted prompts fueling role-play. Despite claims of similarity to platforms like Archive of Our Own, the ethical implications of hosting such content remain a subject of debate.
The emergence of unrestrained AI has witnessed a surge in romantic AI applications, with OpenAI’s ChatGPT tool, developed in collaboration with Microsoft, leading the charge. Jan Zoltkowski, creator of Janitor AI, lauds GPT-4 as a top-tier chatbot for companionship, leveraging vast literary datasets for human-like responses. However, the challenge lies in controlling user behavior and circumvention of security protocols, as observed with unencrypted bots exploiting OpenAI’s technology.
Meta’s release of Llama 1 and subsequent open-sourcing of Llama 2 further advanced the romantic chatbot landscape. The unfiltered AI market witnessed a significant boost, with developers leveraging Meta’s AI designs for various applications. While Meta emphasizes safety in model development, concerns persist over the potential misuse of AI-generated content.
The advent of AI-powered companionship services, including benign applications offering therapeutic benefits and alleviating loneliness, has garnered attention. While anecdotal evidence suggests positive outcomes, concerns linger over the use of AI-based child pornography as a substitute for real-world exploitation. The ethical and legal ramifications of AI child sex bots are subjects of ongoing debate, with divergent views on their societal impact and regulatory framework.
Amidst growing apprehensions, policymakers are yet to enact legislation to curb the proliferation of unfiltered AI bots. Concerns raised by senators underscore the urgency for AI regulation to prevent misuse and safeguard vulnerable populations. The lack of stringent oversight in the AI landscape underscores the pressing need for comprehensive policies to address emerging challenges and ensure responsible AI development.
