There’s a reliable pattern in technology history: the adult industry is often first to commercialise a new medium, and the rest of the economy follows years later. Online payment flows, video streaming, pay-per-view, mobile-first design — each was proven profitable here before it went mainstream.

The reasons are structural, not salacious. The demand is constant and global. The willingness to pay is high. And the industry has both the incentive and the freedom to experiment with distribution and monetisation that more cautious sectors avoid.

That makes it a useful leading indicator. When this market adopts a technology at scale, it’s a strong signal that the technology is genuinely ready for paying customers — not just demos. AI is now being adopted here aggressively, which is exactly why it’s worth watching closely, regardless of how you feel about the sector itself.