Over 150,000 Sign Up for Joi AI's Paid Masturbation Study
Joi AI's call for participants in its AI-guided masturbation study attracted over 150,000 applications, prompting the company to establish a formal selection process. As reported by Decrypt, the overwhelming response highlighted the growing interest in AI companions and associated adult applications.
Joi AI, known for its virtual companions and NSFW role-play platforms, announced in May that it would offer $2,000 to individuals interested in testing its AI-guided masturbation feature. The response was unexpected, with over 150,000 applicants submitting their information in hopes of participating in the study.
Julie Levin, Head of Brand and Communications at Joi AI, remarked on the surprise of the volume of applications received, stating, "Yeah, it was crazy. First of all, we didn’t expect to receive that many applicants, and we didn’t think beforehand that we would need to have this application process set up initially.” The flood of applications forced Joi AI to create a public selection process to manage the overwhelming interest.
The company aims to choose 10 participants to ensure diversity in gender, age, and preferences. Many applicants hailed from the United States and Nigeria, and while the majority of respondents were men in their 20s, a notable number of women also applied. Among the applicants were individuals with diverse backgrounds, such as a professional sommelier and a former sex worker, each highlighting their unique qualifications for the role.
Joi AI joined a market of web-based AI companion platforms, which includes others like Candy AI and SpicyChat AI. App intelligence platform Appfigures reports that NSFW and romantic AI companion applications available through traditional app stores have generated approximately $427 million in consumer spending since 2022, indicating a significant interest in these types of services.
As Joi AI continues to navigate this unique market segment, the company keeps evolving. It initially launched in 2023 under the name Eden by Eva AI and rebranded in 2025 to its current name, referencing the AI companion character Joi from the film "Blade Runner 2049." This further signifies its niche identity within the growing realm of AI-driven companionship.
The response to Joi AI’s unconventional campaign suggests a burgeoning acceptance and curiosity around AI companions, both for entertainment and companionship, positioning the company at the forefront of this emerging field.
Summary based on original reporting by Jason Nelson at Decrypt, originally published Jul 6, 2026. SolanaWire does not republish source content.
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