In some respects, the annual AVN Expo looks like any other industry gathering. There are lanyards, branded tote bags and long queues for bad coffee inside a brightly lit Las Vegas hotel. In other ways, it is unmistakably porn.
The dress code is less about jackets and ties than about which body parts need to be covered. Panel discussions toggle between acronyms like AI and BDSM. The closing night culminates in an awards ceremony once described by David Foster Wallace, who attended in 1998, as the porn industry’s Oscars.
The expo has convened the adult-entertainment business every year since 1984. Over that time, porn has been reshaped repeatedly by technology: first by the open web, then by free tube sites such as Pornhub, and later by subscription platforms like OnlyFans that put performers in direct contact with fans.
As power shifted away from big studios and glossy productions, the convention itself shrank. Fewer booths, fewer stars, fewer spectators. “It’s the incredible shrinking convention,” says Tommy Gunn, a veteran performer. Now artificial intelligence looms as the next, and possibly biggest, disruption.
This year’s event, held from January 21 to 24 at the Virgin Hotels, felt closer to a tech fair than a bacchanal. Alongside the usual lines for selfies with performers were startups pitching software and hardware. Hesen AI, a robotics company, demonstrated sex dolls with medical-grade silicone skin, moving eyes and rudimentary conversational ability.
Beyond AI, a software firm, promoted tools that let performers create digital replicas capable of producing explicit content on demand. Toy manufacturers showcased devices designed to sync with chatbots, blurring the line between online fantasy and physical interaction.
Much of the conversation centred on whether AI will replace human performers. Some are responding defensively, trademarking stage names and renegotiating contracts to prevent their likeness being used to train models without consent. Others see opportunity. AI is already being used to edit videos and manage fan interactions. Cherie DeVille, known online as “the internet’s stepmom”, says she would consider creating a digital double under the right terms. “I do believe it’s the future,” she says.
The bigger question is whether audiences will actually prefer synthetic stars. Casey Calvert worries that she cannot compete with software. “The AI girl is always horny and always available,” she says. Even for fans who want a real person, expectations have shifted. Roxy Renee says followers now demand instant replies and hyper-specific content, the sort of service a bot would provide without complaint. One fan recently asked her to prove she was human by sending a photo holding up three fingers and a spoon.
There remains, however, one advantage AI cannot fully replicate: physical presence. Jennifer White, named Female Performer of the Year at the awards ceremony, spent much of the expo posing for photos with fans. One night she slipped out to dance at Sapphire, billed as the world’s largest strip club, where a crowd gathered to cheer and throw cash. In an industry staring down automation, flesh-and-blood encounters may become the ultimate premium product.
Last modified: January 29, 2026
