AI Reinventing Misogyny: The New Frontier of Sexism
Feminist author Laura Bates warns that AI reinventing misogyny is not a distant dystopia but a current reality. In her new book, ‘The New Age of Sexism,’ she documents how emerging technologies, from deepfakes to AI chatbots, are amplifying and creating new avenues for gender-based abuse. This digital evolution gives ancient biases a powerful new life, making harassment more accessible and pervasive than ever before.
The Democratization of Digital Abuse
One of the most alarming aspects is the ease of access to these harmful tools. In the past, creating abusive content required technical skill, but today, anyone with an internet connection can generate realistic pornographic deepfakes of women and girls from a single clothed image. Consequently, this technology is lowering the bar for abuse, with cases emerging of school children using these tools against their classmates. This accessibility widens the net of potential abusers and victims dramatically.
How AI Normalizes Sexist Behavior
The problem extends beyond explicit content. Bates points to AI ‘girlfriends’ and virtual assistants as tools that can indoctrinate misogyny. These bots often present a submissive, eternally available female persona, reinforcing harmful stereotypes. For example, she explains:
- AI companions are often customized to be completely subservient, never disagreeing or having their own needs.
- Virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa are feminized and frequently receive verbal abuse, normalizing disrespectful interactions.
- This constant exposure, especially for young people, shapes perceptions of what a relationship is and what a woman should be.
Furthermore, these technologies are not just reflecting societal biases; they are actively encoding them into the foundations of our future. As Bates argues, the claim that these bots help men develop relationship skills lacks evidence and serves as a marketing spin for what is essentially ‘misogyny in app form’. This highlights a critical challenge where AI reinventing misogyny becomes a profitable enterprise.
The Urgent Need for Regulation
The solution, according to Bates and even some tech insiders, is urgent and robust regulation. The rapid rollout of these products without sufficient safeguards is a gamble with societal well-being. Despite some efforts like the UK’s Online Safety Act, there is a lack of global consensus, with some governments resisting stronger controls. As detailed by projects like The Everyday Sexism Project, inaction allows these harms to become deeply embedded. Therefore, the debate is not about being anti-tech but about demanding responsible innovation that prioritizes human safety over profit, preventing a future where AI reinventing misogyny is the default.