Chinese company to roll out AI-powered 'sexbots' with focus on emotional connect

Chinese sex doll manufacturers are looking determined to improve their products by using ChatGPT-like AI technology. Starpery Technology, a Shenzhen-based sex doll company, is working on an AI-driven language model of its own to enhance its products. A report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) said the new AI products will be hitting the shelves soon. “We are developing a next-generation sex doll that can interact vocally and physically with users, with prototypes expected by August this year,” said CEO Evan Lee.

“Technological challenges remain, particularly in achieving realistic human interaction,” he said. “While simple dialogue is easy, creating interactive responses involves complex model development by specialised software companies,” he added.

Sex dolls will be available in both male and female forms.

As per the manufacturer, the sex dolls currently available in the market don't exhibit expressions and lack the capabilities to engage with humans. But new AI models will be equipped with sensors to enhance user experience.

“The new generation of sex dolls, powered by AI models and equipped with sensors, can react with both movements and speech, significantly enhancing user experience by focusing on emotional connection rather than just basic conversational abilities,” Lee said.

The CEO added that despite China largely being a conservative society, it had emerged as the largest market for sex dolls, contributing to more sales than the US, Japan and Germany combined.

“People in the industry know China has a huge market, with purchasing power in major cities surpassing many European countries. The market is also open in mind – though aesthetically different from the European market,” he said.

Following in the footsteps of Starpery, other Chinese doll manufacturers are also integrating AI into their products. WMdoll, in Zhongshan, another Guangdong city, and EXdoll, in Dalian, in the northeastern province of Liaoning, also plan to roll out similar products in the near future.

But not everyone is amused with this development. Critics say this might lead to the erosion of real human connection between partners and healthy partnerships.

(With inputs from agencies)