LONDON – In a groundbreaking fusion of artificial intelligence and digital intimacy, a new platform is captivating audiences by offering AI-powered avatars that never sleep, eat, or breathe, yet promise a level of engagement that is both intimate and continuous.
Immediate Impact of AI Avatars
Her name is Jordan, an AI-driven “digital twin” of former British glamor model Katie Price. Users can pay for Jordan to fulfill their “uncensored dreams,” providing a virtual experience that Price describes as “literally me.” This development is part of OhChat, a nascent startup that has digitally immortalized a host of creators and celebrities since its inception eight months ago.
OhChat has already attracted 200,000 users, primarily from the United States, with its promise of “spicy fantasies” through lifelike AI avatars. Price, who rose to fame in the late 1990s, is the latest addition to this digital revolution.
Key Details Emerge
OhChat operates at the intersection of AI, fame, and fantasy, pushing beyond the boundaries set by platforms like OnlyFans. Here, intimacy is simulated, and connection is monetized, raising ethical questions about the role of AI in personal interactions.
“This creates exactly the right environment for the human to be left behind completely – while still being exploited,” said Eleanor Drage, a senior research fellow at the University of Cambridge.
A New Model for Digital Interaction
OhChat CEO Nic Young describes the platform as the “lovechild between OnlyFans and OpenAI.” The avatars, once activated, function autonomously, offering “infinite personalized content” for subscribers. The subscription model is tiered, with prices ranging from $4.99 to $29.99 per month, depending on the level of interaction.
Creators like Price receive an 80% revenue share from their AI avatar’s earnings. Young emphasizes the platform’s potential for “unlimited passive income” without ongoing effort from the creators.
Industry Response and Ethical Concerns
OhChat’s emergence highlights growing ethical concerns about AI’s impact on how people earn a living and form intimate connections. The platform’s model raises questions about emotional dependence on AI companions.
“It’s all algorithmic theatre: an illusion of reciprocal relationship where none actually exists,” said Toby Walsh, a professor of artificial intelligence at the University of New South Wales.
Safeguards and Creator Control
OhChat claims to operate within “strong boundaries,” employing safeguards similar to those used by Meta’s Facebook. Creators sign agreements outlining behavioral rules for their digital twins, with the ability to revoke or delete avatars at any time.
What Comes Next
As OhChat continues to expand, Young envisions a future where digital duplicates become the norm for creators and celebrities. “I can’t imagine a future where every creator doesn’t have a digital twin,” he stated.
However, this vision is not without its challenges. Experts warn of potential reputational risks for creators and ethical dilemmas surrounding AI’s role in human interaction.
“Vulnerable fan users may become overly attached to avatars of their heroes and become addicted,” said Éamon Chawke, a partner at the intellectual property law firm Briffa.
The conversation around AI avatars is just beginning, and as technology evolves, so too will the questions and implications surrounding its use in the digital intimacy market.
