Well, that's totally understandable! AI and search engines can be useful tools for sexual health education – providing easy access to tons of online resources about sexual health, whether about getting tested for STBBIs, asking your partner(s) for consent, trying out new toys, or anything in between!
But, it’s important to keep in mind that AI isn’t a reliable tool for any medical diagnoses – if you think there’s something that needs to be checked out, it’s always best to go see a medical professional.
When using ChatGPT or any form of AI, we also need to keep in mind that many of the online sources these programs are pulling information from do not represent the experiences of people with diverse identities. AI ‘learns’ from what already exists on the internet, and a lot of online content surrounding sexual health is limited. It often centers cisgender, heterosexual experiences, while leaving out the experiences of queer and trans folks, people with disabilities, non-monogamous relationships, and more – ignoring the fact that everyone’s sexual health and experiences are equally valid and important. Sexual health isn’t just about biology – and ChatGPT might not take into consideration that a holistic, person-centered view of sex might be more helpful for anyone exploring questions about sexual health.
For example, ChatGPT might suggest that your relationship should follow a specific timeline or meet certain milestones such as meeting each other’s families, having sex for the first time, etc., without acknowledging that fulfilling, healthy relationships look different for all people. For 2SLGBTQIA+ folks especially, advice from ChatGPT may feel out of touch – reinforcing traditional gender roles or leaving out the importance of gender affirming actions during sex. If someone is asking AI questions about their sexual health and relationships and being presented with one specific idea of what a relationship is, it might make them question if their experiences are ‘normal’ or valid. The biases that AI presents aren’t just limiting how useful the responses are – they can also impact how people feel about themselves, their identities, and their relationships.
We all have different needs, desires, and boundaries. ChatGPT is a quick & easy tool to use when it’s 2 a.m., and you can’t remember what type of lube you can use on your vibrator (p.s. it's water-based! Oil- and silicone-based lubricants can degrade your rubber, latex, or plastic toys!). But remember to fact-check anything you’re reading and cross-reference multiple sources. If you can’t find a consistent answer across multiple sources, it’s probably best to have a conversation with an educator or someone you trust!
ChatGPT and other AI tools can provide some basic information about sexual health, but it might not provide information that considers the nuances of sexual health – and it can’t always consider who you actually are! You deserve to feel empowered when making informed decisions about your sexual health, and in order to do that, you need to know all of your options and what feels right for you!
Written by Sexfluent in partnership with Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights