• Three Hours for Makeup and Household Chores: Japanese Prime Minister’s Admission Sparks Public Debate

  Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has said her daily schedule is significantly more demanding than those of her male predecessors. In addition to her official duties, she spends several hours a day on makeup, bathing, cooking and other household tasks. Her remarks have sparked a heated debate about gender stereotypes and the expectations placed on Japanese women, The New York Times reports...

• “Grandparents Now Need Permission to Hug”: Controversial Ad Pulled After Backlash

  A controversy has erupted in Ireland over a public awareness campaign urging grandparents to ask their grandchildren for permission before hugging them. The video, created by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and funded by the Department of Justice, sparked accusations of absurd political correctness, disrespect toward older people and the misuse of public funds. The justice minister eventually demanded that the video be taken down...

• The Pharaohs Forgot to Sign the Paperwork: Scottish Museum Removes Mummies Over Lack of Consent

  A scandal worthy of a museum exhibit of its own has erupted in Scotland: ancient Egyptian remains have been removed from a Glasgow museum because people who died thousands of years ago never gave permission for their bodies to be displayed in public. Visitors are now greeted by explanatory signs instead of mummies — apparently the safest exhibit in an era when even pharaohs have suddenly been found to have personal-boundary issues...

• Hermès Steps Up Boutique Security After Riots in France

  French luxury house Hermès has tightened security at its stores following widespread protests in France, during which one of the brand’s boutiques in Marseille was looted. The company is also facing a new challenge: demand for its products is slowing, and sales of clothing and accessories have declined for the first time in several years, Reuters reports...

• Outrage Over Inaccessible Luxury: Why Dior and Hermès Boutiques Were Looted in France

  Riots in France have led to the looting of boutiques belonging to Dior, Celine, Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Saint Laurent. Images of ransacked stores have become some of the most widely discussed scenes from the protests sweeping the country. But, as The New York Times fashion critic Vanessa Friedman observes, the attacks on luxury brands may reflect not only street violence but also growing resentment over social inequality...

• Luxury Yachts, Secret Palaces and Private Hunting Grounds: How the World’s Most Brutal Dictators Spent Their Holidays

  While millions of North Koreans struggle with hardship, Kim Jong Un appears to spend his summers very differently — aboard a luxury yacht equipped with swimming pools and water slides, the Daily Mail reports...

• Kylie Jenner’s $50 Million Fantasy Bra Set for Private Sale: Who Could Own the Most Expensive Victoria’s Secret Showpiece?

  The $50 million Fantasy Bra worn by Kylie Jenner during her Victoria’s Secret runway debut in 2026 is being prepared for a private sale. According to Page Six Style, the extraordinary piece will return to Jacob & Co.’s New York boutique, where wealthy buyers will have the opportunity to purchase it...

• French Looters Regret Stealing iPhones After Apple Locks Devices and Tracks Their Locations

  Looters who ransacked an Apple Store in Lille, France, during widespread riots have faced an unexpected consequence: the stolen iPhones have been disabled, and their locations are being tracked...

Newly minted AI multi-millionaires in Silicon Valley are shelling out astronomical sums—up to $6,000 an hour and $23,000 a day—for the services of high-end escorts who can debate graphics processing units (GPUs), the singularity, and the future of humanity on equal footing before heading to the bedroom.

A small but rapidly growing class of so-called "nerd-first" companions is fully cashing in on the tech sector's massive wealth explosion. These women market themselves as intellectually curious partners capable of completely matching their clients' obsessions with artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, biohacking, longevity, and other futurist pursuits.

According to Forbes, only a handful of women currently operate in this ultra-premium niche, yet their rates completely dwarf those of traditional high-end companions.

From Finance to AI Escorting: The Stories of Meida Marek and Aella

Meida Marek (an online pseudonym used by a former finance sector employee) told Forbes she pivoted into elite escorting after seriously contemplating how the rapid advancement of AI might eventually impact her own banking career prospects. Today, she charges $3,500 an hour and is booked out months in advance. “I would call it a ‘nerd-first’ approach,” comments Aella, a prominent US escort and online personality who gained viral fame by applying rigorous data analysis and statistics to her intimacy work. Her current rate sits at $6,000 an hour.

The women masterfully blend provocative social media content with complex technical discussions. Their target audience consists of men working directly within the AI sector, including employees at corporations that have benefited the most from the industry's recent rapid growth. “Posting about AI works,” says another industry provider operating under the pseudonym Ada Hopper. “You’ll have random Nvidia bros who are like, ‘What? You know what a GPU is? Oh my God, wow.’”

The Economics of "Smart Escorting": Sex Takes a Backseat

The economic metrics of this new niche are striking. While top models on traditional industry platforms typically cap out at around $1,000 an hour, "AI escorts" routinely report rates between $3,500 and $6,000. Hopper, for instance, charges $5,000 an hour. “The girls who charge the highest rates are not the hottest girls,” Hopper candidly notes. “They’re the girls who are hot and smart.”

The explosive accumulation of wealth in the AI sector has created a massive demographic of single, fabulously wealthy clients. Tech workers who received multi-million dollar stock windfalls or startup founders who just closed massive funding rounds are seeking companionship that feels more personal than soulless dating apps and more authentic than AI chatbots. Many clients are far less interested in sex than in extended, private conversations about technology and the future. “There was some sex in between, but most of the time it was just playful, nice, and deep conversation,” Marek told Forbes, recalling a recent overnight booking with a client.

For other escorts, these encounters frequently evolve into recurring, long-term arrangements involving travel, luxury experiences, and extended time together.

The Ultimate Future Luxury: A Real Human

Proponents of the trend argue that the rise of AI itself is driving the demand for these services.“As AI becomes bigger, authentic human connection will become a rarity,” concludes escort Charlie Levine. “In the future, being able to afford human contact, and to afford settings where there is genuine human contact, will be the ultimate luxury.”

Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram