New Horizons: The Future of Sex

Bryony Cole knows how to create a buzz. As the world’s leading authority on sextech, she is fascinated by the way technology penetrates every corner of our lives, even the most intimate ones. Since launching the top-rated podcast Future of Sex, Bryony has been on stages across the world forecasting trends in the sextech industry for governments, tech titans and entertainment companies. Her incredible body of research and annual Future of Sex report are considered the pinnacle of industry insights. She is also part of the New York-based Women of Sextech, a fast growing community of entrepreneurs, developers and though leaders.

In this Vivid Ideas talk, Bryony reveals her findings about the latest developments in sextech and the sex-positive movement. She has interviewed hundreds of technologists, scientists, researchers and therapists shares insights on everything from teledildonics, artificial intelligence and sex toys as well as fertility trackers, sex education and even crime-watch apps for averting sexual assaults.

According to The Guardian, sextech is a $30 billion industry growing at 30% per year, potentially outpacing high growth sectors like drone manufacturing. In 2017, trend forecasting company J Walter Thompson Intelligence coined the word vagina-nomics to describe the new wave of female-led sex and fertility tech ventures. Everyone will feel the benefits, especially those who face sexual challenges due to distance, loneliness, discrimination or disability. While it is a burgeoning industry, societal stigmas and misconceptions continue to keep sextech in taboo territory. Bryony is on a mission to change that and to encourage more open conversations around the nexus between sex, technology and wellness.

Bryony’s keynote presentation unwraps how the sextech industry is evolving, what innovations are coming next, who is driving the industry and some of the ramifications we’ll soon feel. If you are interested in the business side of sextech or creating an inclusive sex-positive society – this is the talk for you.

Check out more events in The New Horizons Series program