The Hidden Desires: Exploring Chinese Women's Erotic Role-Play with AI Chatbots

With the rise of AI companions, a new form of intimacy—AI Erotic Role Play (ERP), has emerged. While existing research highlights companionship, the sexual dimension of human–AI intimacy remains underexplored, especially outside Western contexts where cultural norms heavily constrain female sexual expression. This paper investigates how and why Chinese women engage in AI ERP through thematic analysis of over 800 RedNote posts and interviews with 15 users. Findings reveal a paradox: ERP provides a sense of sexual liberation yet often reproduces conservative relational scripts shaped by traditional gender expectations. Our contribution is twofold: critically, we show how digital intimacy remains structured by entrenched cultural scripts, enabling users to recognize their constraints; practically, we offer design insights for future intimate AI systems beyond Western settings, emphasizing script flexibility, cultural responsiveness, and ethical safeguards.