Lanyards, Latex, and Algorithms: The Adult Industry Confronts the Age of AI

02, Feb. 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The 2026 AVN Expo in Las Vegas, widely considered the adult entertainment industry’s equivalent to the Oscars, illustrates a sector grappling with the rapid integration of artificial intelligence. The conference presents a surreal juxtaposition of standard corporate logistics—such as lanyards and coffee queues—against the backdrop of an industry defined by explicit content, evidenced by dress codes that regulate body concealment rather than formal attire

A central theme of the event is the existential threat AI poses to human performers. As industry professionals discuss acronyms like “BDSM” alongside “AI” on stage, the discourse focuses on how human actors can maintain their livelihoods in an era increasingly dominated by synthetic content. This shift is thematically captured by the print edition’s headline, “Fleshed out,” and accompanying imagery of a modified reCAPTCHA reading “I am not a human,” symbolizing the potential displacement of the human element by digital entities.

Based on the provided sources, AI technology is transforming the adult entertainment industry’s landscape by becoming a central topic of professional discussion and presenting a potential challenge to human performers.

dominating industry discourse: At the AVN Expo, described as the “world’s premier adult-entertainment conference,” AI is now explicitly discussed on stage alongside traditional industry acronyms like BDSM.

Challenging human performers: The industry is currently facing an “age of AI” that raises questions regarding how human “porn stars can survive,” suggesting that artificial intelligence threatens the traditional livelihoods of actors.

Blurring lines between human and artificial: The landscape is shifting toward non-human entities, illustrated by imagery depicting a “reCAPTCHA” box modified to read “I am not a human,” signaling the rise of artificial content creators or agents.

Please note: The provided sources are limited to excerpts and titles which highlight that AI is a major topic of concern, but they do not detail the specific technological mechanisms (such as deepfakes or chatbots) driving this transformation.

Based on the provided sources, there are no specific strategies listed for how performers can survive AI competition.

While the title of the source material is “How porn stars can survive in the age of AI”, the excerpts provided do not contain the body of the article where these strategies would likely be detailed. The available text describes the context in which these conversations are happening:

Industry Conferences: The topic is being discussed at the AVN Expo, described as the “world’s premier adult-entertainment conference”.

Professional Discourse: “AI” is now an acronym “thrown around on stage” alongside standard industry terms like BDSM, indicating that the survival of human performers against AI is a central theme of professional gatherings.

The current sources establish the setting for the discussion but do not provide the content of the advice given to performers.

At the AVN Expo, AI is compared to other industry trends by being categorized as a standard topic of professional discussion alongside established adult entertainment genres.

Integration with Industry Terminology: The sources note that “the acronyms thrown around on stage include AI, but also BDSM,” indicating that artificial intelligence is now spoken about with the same frequency and familiarity as traditional industry niches.

Context of the Conference: While the expo shares similarities with general business conferences—such as attendees collecting lanyards and queuing for coffee—the inclusion of AI in stage discussions highlights how the technology is permeating an event otherwise defined by unique industry standards, such as dress codes regarding “which body parts must be concealed”.

Based on the provided sources, there is no information available regarding the specific strategies performers are using to compete with synthetic content.

While the title of the source article is “How porn stars can survive in the age of AI”, the provided excerpts do not contain the body of the text where these strategies would be detailed. The available information is limited to the context in which the conversation is taking place:

Industry Discussion: The topic of AI is currently being “thrown around on stage” at the AVN Expo, the industry’s premier conference.

Conference Atmosphere: The sources describe the setting—noting that while it resembles a standard business conference with lanyards and coffee, it has unique dress codes regarding “which body parts must be concealed”—but they do not elaborate on the specific advice or business models being proposed to performers to counter the rise of non-human content.

The headline “Fleshed out” appeared in the Business section of the print edition. While the sources do not explicitly define the headline’s intended meaning, the context of the article suggests a play on words contrasting the physical nature of the industry with the rise of artificial intelligence:

The Threat to “Flesh”: The article explores the existential challenge AI poses to human performers, as indicated by the online title, “How porn stars can survive in the age of AI”.

The Rise of the Non-Human: The headline is accompanied by imagery of a reCAPTCHA box modified to read “I am not a human,” suggesting that the “flesh” (human element) of the industry is being challenged or potentially removed by non-human technology.

Physical Focus: The industry is defined by its focus on the human body, with conferences having dress codes specifying “which body parts must be concealed”.

Therefore, in this context, “Fleshed out” likely implies that the human element of the industry is being pushed out or replaced by digital alternatives.

Based on the provided sources, there is no information available regarding the specific strategies performers are using to compete with synthetic content.

While the title of the source article is “How porn stars can survive in the age of AI”, the provided excerpts do not contain the body of the text where these strategies would be detailed. The available information is limited to the context in which the conversation is taking place:

Industry Discussion: The topic of AI is currently being “thrown around on stage” at the AVN Expo, the industry’s premier conference.

Conference Atmosphere: The sources describe the setting—noting that while it resembles a standard business conference with lanyards and coffee, it has unique dress codes regarding “which body parts must be concealed”—but they do not elaborate on the specific advice or business models being proposed to performers to counter the rise of non-human content.

Based on the sources, the focus on body part concealment is a specific requirement of the dress code for the AVN Expo.

Unlike standard business conferences where dress codes might dictate whether “blazers and ties are required,” the rules for this “adult-entertainment conference” specify “which body parts must be concealed”. This distinction highlights how the event differs from typical professional gatherings despite sharing similarities like lanyards and coffee queues.

The AVN Expo shares several logistical and structural similarities with standard business conferences:

Standard Logistics: Like attendees at mainstream corporate events, participants at the AVN Expo collect lanyards and congregate in a “brightly lit hotel”.

Catering: The experience of refreshments mimics other professional expos, with attendees queuing at coffee stations for “tepid drinks”.

Professional Structure: The event features stage presentations where industry acronyms are “thrown around,” and it concludes with a formal awards ceremony.

The AVN Expo shares several logistical and structural similarities with standard business conferences:

Standard Logistics: Like attendees at mainstream corporate events, participants at the AVN Expo collect lanyards and congregate in a “brightly lit hotel”.

Catering: The experience of refreshments mimics other professional expos, with attendees queuing at coffee stations for “tepid drinks”.

Professional Structure: The event features stage presentations where industry acronyms are “thrown around,” and it concludes with a formal awards ceremony.

The AVN Expo presents a distinct contrast between its standard business logistics and its explicit adult content.

Structurally, the event operates “like any other conference,” characterized by attendees collecting lanyards, gathering in a “brightly lit hotel,” and queuing for “tepid drinks” at coffee stations. However, the specific content and regulations diverge significantly from standard corporate norms; for example, the dress code dictates “which body parts must be concealed” rather than requiring traditional professional attire like “blazers and ties”. Furthermore, the professional discourse on stage juxtaposes general technological trends like “AI” alongside specific industry terminology such as “BDSM”.

The AVN Expo resembles a standard business conference because it shares the same logistical structure and atmosphere found in mainstream professional gatherings. Specific similarities include:

Registration and Setting: Attendees follow standard protocols such as collecting lanyards and gathering in a “brightly lit hotel”.

Amenities: The event features typical conference refreshments, with participants queuing at coffee stations for “tepid drinks”.

Presentations: The expo centers on stage discussions where industry acronyms are “thrown around,” similar to corporate presentations in other sectors.

The AVN Awards are comparable to the Oscars in their prestige within their specific field, but they are unique due to the distinct regulations and subject matter of the industry they celebrate.

Industry Parallel: The closing night of the AVN Expo features an awards ceremony explicitly described by writer David Foster Wallace as “the porn industry’s Oscars”.

Distinct Atmosphere and Rules: While the source notes the event shares similarities with standard conferences, it highlights a unique dress code that focuses not on formal wear like “blazers and ties,” but rather on “which body parts must be concealed”.

Content Focus: The context of the awards differs significantly from mainstream film, as the surrounding event features stage discussions involving industry-specific acronyms like “BDSM” alongside general tech terms like “AI”.

Details of how AI is currently altering performer income or daily work are not explicitly available. However, the presence of AI at the expo indicates that the technology is viewed as a significant existential threat to human livelihoods.