What Happened to Joi AI (formerly EVA AI)?
Joi AI, an AI companionship platform previously known as EVA AI, specializes in creating customizable virtual partners for digital relationships, intimacy, and self-exploration. The company gained significant media attention in May 2026 for announcing a unique job opening: hiring 'masturbation consultants' to test its new 'Daily Guided Masturbation' feature, offering $2,000 per month for participants to provide feedback on AI-guided voice sessions.
Quick Answer
Joi AI, formerly known as EVA AI, is an AI companionship platform that allows users to create and interact with customizable virtual partners for digital intimacy and relationships. In May 2026, the company made headlines by announcing it was hiring 10 'masturbation consultants' for $2,000 a month. These consultants are tasked with testing Joi AI's new 'Daily Guided Masturbation' feature, which uses mood-matched AI voice sessions, and providing feedback on its effects on stress, sleep, mood, and confidence.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline7 events
Joi AI Company Founded
The overarching company that would eventually become Joi AI was founded, laying the groundwork for its future ventures in AI companionship.
Launch of EVA AI Companion Platform
The AI companion platform, initially branded as EVA AI, was launched, offering users digital relationships and customizable AI partners for chat and interaction.
EVA AI Rebrands to Joi AI
EVA AI officially rebranded to Joi AI, repositioning itself as a 'sex-positive space' and a 'judgment-free alternative to dating apps' for romance, dating practice, and fantasy exploration. This included the introduction of new features like tailored hyper-realistic video messages.
Joi AI Emphasizes Ethical Guidelines
Joi AI published information detailing its ethical framework, focusing on user privacy, content moderation, and measures to prevent deepfakes, aiming to build trust in the burgeoning AI companion industry.
User Reviews and Platform Analysis Emerge
Reviews and analyses of Joi AI's platform were published, discussing its features, freemium pricing model (using 'Neurons'), and overall user experience, highlighting both its strengths in customization and areas for improvement in depth and cost.
Concerns Raised Over Joi.ai's Pricing Model
Discussions on platforms like Reddit surfaced, with users expressing concerns about Joi.ai's pricing structure, likening it to a 'weird gambling game' due to non-transparent transactions for virtual credits.
Joi AI Announces 'Masturbation Consultant' Hiring
Joi AI garnered widespread media attention by announcing it was hiring 10 'masturbation consultants' for $2,000 a month. This role involves testing the new 'Daily Guided Masturbation' feature, which uses mood-matched AI voice sessions, and providing feedback on its impact on user wellness.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Joi AI, a company focused on digital intimacy and AI companionship, has evolved significantly since its inception. The company, which some sources indicate was founded as early as 2016, launched its AI companion platform under the 'EVA AI' brand around 2023, aiming to provide a space for users to build 'AI-lationships' with customizable virtual characters.
On April 7, 2025, EVA AI underwent a major rebranding, officially becoming Joi AI. This strategic shift repositioned the platform as a 'sex-positive space' and a 'judgment-free alternative to dating apps,' emphasizing self-expression and intimacy through AI-powered chat, photos, and videos. The rebranding also coincided with the introduction of new features, including tailored hyper-realistic video messages generated in real-time.
Throughout late 2025 and early 2026, Joi AI continued to develop its offerings, focusing on personalized conversations, roleplay, and AI-generated content. The company also addressed ethical considerations, publishing guidelines in December 2025 that highlighted its commitment to user privacy, content moderation, and preventing the dissemination of deepfakes, stating that images are sourced from predefined folders and consent is ensured for featured individuals.
However, the platform has faced some criticism. User reviews in early 2026 pointed to dissatisfaction with Joi AI's freemium pricing model, with some users feeling constantly upsold for features like unlimited messages or advanced character customization. Discussions on platforms like Reddit in May 2026 also described the pricing structure as a 'weird gambling game' due to non-transparent transactions for virtual credits called 'neurons.'
The most recent and attention-grabbing development occurred in May 2026, when Joi AI announced it was hiring 10 'masturbation consultants.' This four-week, $2,000-a-month role involves testing a new 'Daily Guided Masturbation' feature, which utilizes mood-matched AI voice sessions. Participants are required to provide detailed feedback through questionnaires, documenting the feature's impact on their stress levels, sleep quality, mood, and confidence. Joi AI's Head of Brand and Communication, Julie Levin, confirmed the authenticity of the job posting, stating it's a structured product testing initiative aimed at gathering feedback and highlighting AI's role in sexual wellness and digital intimacy.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Joi AI (formerly EVA AI) made different choices?