Phoenix 24
AI scales intimacy, but earnings remain uncertain.
GLOBAL | JULY 2026
A growing category of digital platforms is offering adults the possibility of earning money through conversations presented as virtual companionship. Some services advertise potential income of up to 120 dollars per day for maintaining chats, voice calls or video interactions with users seeking attention, entertainment or emotional connection. The figure is not a guaranteed salary, because payment usually depends on activity, session duration, virtual gifts and the number of returning customers.
The work is generally performed through profiles that remain available during selected hours and receive requests from paying users. Some platforms focus on text messages, while others include live calls, personalized content or companionship sessions charged by the minute. Their policies differ significantly, and the boundary between friendship, flirting, entertainment and romantic simulation is not always clearly defined.
Artificial intelligence is becoming an operational tool within this market. It can recommend responses, translate conversations, identify user preferences, generate personalized greetings and help operators manage several interactions. Other systems use AI to create avatars, images or fictional personalities capable of maintaining a consistent style across repeated conversations.
The revenue model is built around paid credits, subscriptions and digital gifts purchased by users. Platforms retain part of that money and transfer a percentage to the person managing the profile or providing the interaction. Reaching the highest advertised income may require long hours, constant availability and a strong base of repeat customers, while commissions, withdrawal limits and taxes can reduce the final amount.
The activity also carries significant risks involving privacy, harassment, identity theft and the unauthorized use of photographs or voices. Workers should avoid sending financial information, accepting payments outside official systems or allowing their image to be used for deepfakes without clear contractual protection. Users, meanwhile, need transparency about whether they are communicating with a real person, an AI system or a combination of both.
The rise of these applications shows how artificial intelligence is merging the gig economy with the commercialization of emotional attention. Technology can automate language and personalize interaction, but it cannot eliminate the ethical questions surrounding simulated intimacy. In this market, transparency may become as valuable as the conversation itself.
Detrás de cada dato, la intención. / Behind every data point, the intention.