Riley Reid, renowned adult film star and media investor, is pushing the boundaries of adult entertainment by embracing the transformative potential of generative artificial intelligence (AI). Her latest endeavor, Clona.AI, introduces an online platform where users can engage in text-based conversations with digital avatars of content creators. What sets Clona.AI apart from other adult chatbots is the explicit consent and active involvement of the models’ creators in shaping the AI companions’ dialogues, ensuring a more personalized and consensual experience.
For a monthly subscription fee of $30, fans and subscribers gain access to “intimate conversations” with digital renditions of their favorite adult stars, content creators, and influencers. The platform’s initial lineup includes Riley Reid herself and Lena the Plug. While a free tier is available, it offers a limited allowance of five chat messages per month.
In a statement to 404 Media, Riley Reid emphasizes the inevitability of AI’s integration into adult entertainment: “The reality is, AI is coming, and if it’s not Clona, it’s somebody else. When [other people] use deepfakes or whatever — if I’m not partnering up with it, then someone else is going to steal my likeness and do it without me.” This initiative provides her with an opportunity to actively participate in society’s technological advancements while retaining control over her likeness.
The Technology Behind Clona.AI
Clona.AI harnesses the power of Meta’s Llama 2, a large language model, as its foundation. However, the true magic lies in the extensive refinement and retraining of this model to mirror the unique personalities of the individuals upon whom it is based. Riley Reid’s avatar, for instance, underwent initial training using a diverse range of her online content, including interviews, podcast appearances, YouTube videos, and even her explicit work. To fine-tune its responses, the AI engaged in conversations with Riley Reid herself.
She explains, “I’ll be able to see how it responds to users, and edit it to be like ‘no, I would have said it more like this.’ But in the beginning, my focus was on things like making sure it had my dogs’ names right, making sure I was fact-checking it.”
Importantly, the level of explicit content in these conversations is determined by the actor’s preferences, not the user’s. Riley Reid’s model, for example, refrains from discussing physically dangerous sexual acts with users. As she humorously points out, considerations for all audience segments are taken into account, even those with unconventional preferences.
Generative AI in Adult Entertainment and Beyond
Generative AI technology has demonstrated its remarkable potential not only in creating digital clones of deceased celebrities and artists but also in various applications across industries. The process typically requires the consent of the celebrity or their estate and access to a substantial corpus of their vocal or video recordings.
However, the same technology has, on occasion, been misused in the creation of deepfake pornography and other questionable practices. Furthermore, the collection of data from the public web, which is then used to train large language models (LLMs), raises complex questions concerning copyright laws, infringement, and eligibility for accolades such as Grammy awards.
Despite these challenges, Riley Reid remains optimistic about the adult entertainment industry’s adaptability and resilience. She envisions it playing a significant role in the integration of AI into society, much like it did with the internet. As she aptly puts it, “It’s what it did with the internet. And the porn world has seen so many advances in technology.”
As Clona.AI paves the way for more personalized and consensual adult entertainment experiences through AI companions, it highlights the industry’s readiness to embrace technological progress while respecting individual boundaries and preferences. Riley Reid’s venture into this exciting realm signals the evolving landscape of adult entertainment in the digital age.
