AI is here to stay, and we cannot avoid it. Only 5 years ago, AI was the stuff of sci-fi and fantasy, and now it is built into everything from your WhatsApp to your washing machine.
It is understandable that this has given quite a strange set of reactions among people. Some love it, some hate it, some embrace the tech, some avoid it. But love it or hate it, you cannot avoid it.
And you cannot open the internet without an article stating, ‘these are the jobs AI will replace’. Writers, lawyers, coders… all are in the crosshairs of the upcoming AI apocalypse. And then, the flip side of that coin, the tons of articles on jobs AI cannot replace. This is where the plumbers have their moment in the sun. Blue collar work is about the safest place you can be right now but Play With Me is not a jobs board, we’re an adult toy store.
Or are we? Because there is more to Play With Me than toys, and this is where I change the topic slightly away from what AI is and is not and the threats and opportunities to society, and into something AI really, absolutely, never can replace: the human connection.
I get it. I really do. I spend a lot of time on chat to bounce ideas around, brainstorm concepts, strategies. AI really has its place, and yes, I admit, sometimes I even use AI to chat about personal things, my own digital bestie I can tell anything to without being judged. It’s awesome. But at the end of the day, I switch off my computer and engage with real people.
And not even at the end of the day. I’m in a very privileged position, in that the people I meet who come through my doors are really, really awesome. There is a human connection here, and some of my clients have, over the years, become some of my best friends. And that community is strong. And I can prove that by pointing to the very successful “Kink for a Cause” party Play With Me hosted in March 2026. People came from all over the country to stand together to help the child of a fallen community member.
No AI can replicate that.
This is the thing: Human connection will never be obsolete, because strong social bonds are directly linked to better mental health, lower disease risk, and even longer life. Yes, AI can be a great sounding board, and it can even be used to generate your own personal fantasies, but at Play With Me, we celebrate the human connection.
Sex, at the end of the day, is the singular most intimate act. This is where two people – or more, we don’t judge – get to express themselves, surrender, love, cherish, and just be one with creation without the distraction of digital devices. Yes, we sell toys, and yes, we sell a lot of solo toys. But the point is that sex and sexuality are inherently and profoundly human excursions.
And this is where Play With Me is forever expanding its scope. We already have a wide range of toys, novelties, peripherals, and consumables, and I’m proud to say we have the first (and as far as I know, only) BDSM dungeon showroom in the country! But we continue to move beyond toys into what matters most - education, sexual wellness, your life and overall wellbeing.
Play with Me is committed to not just providing our clients with the best toys, but also with the best knowledge, resources, and education to celebrate the complete experience of being fully human, fully alive. And no AI can ever provide that.
So, send us a message or pop into the shop to see what we can do for you. Discretion is always guaranteed, and coffee a flick of the kettle away! And to prove it, no AI was used in the creation of this blog post. Connecting with the people of Play With Me is too important to leave to the machines.
As always, be bold and stay playful!
Carmen
Play With Me is a trusted South African adult store with over 8 years experience and discreet delivery nationwide. Visit us in-store at Play With Me, Shop C5, The Gantry, Cnr Witkoppen & Straight Ave, Lonehill, Sandton or enjoy 10% off your first online order.