China Flooded With AI-Powered Sex Dolls: Will Intimacy Ever Be Same Again?

WMDoll, one of China’s largest manufacturers of sex dolls, is anticipating a 30 percent increase in sales this year. This boost comes after the company integrated open-source generative artificial intelligence (AI) models to enhance the user experience of its products.

Founder and CEO Liu Jiangxia shared that feedback from customers has been overwhelmingly positive after introducing large language models (LLMs), the technology behind services like ChatGPT, into the company’s new anthropomorphic sex dolls. "It makes the dolls more responsive and interactive, which offers users a better experience," Liu said in an interview with the South China Morning Post.

Based in Zhongshan, Guangdong province, WMDoll’s latest MetaBox series now features an AI module that connects to cloud computing services across various markets. These services, hosted on data centres, allow the LLMs to process data from each doll.

China Flooded With AI-Powered Sex Dolls: Will Intimacy Ever Be Same Again?

Several startups in China are taking the technology to the next level. At the forefront of this development is Shenzen-based company Starpery Technology. The company is now training its own large language model to integrate its product with artificial intelligence. These dolls are available in male or female forms.

Evan Lee, CEO of the company, told the South China Morning Post, “Technological challenges remain, particularly in achieving realistic human interaction. While simple dialogue is easy, creating interactive responses involves complex model development by specialised software companies.” 

However, the robots may not have the space to incorporate long-lasting batteries which would result in a low energy density. It is also a challenge to replicate the characteristic highly flexible muscular and limbic movements that humans possess.

This new invention may also face ethical issues. Being a relatively contemporary phenomenon, the legal framework is blurred and questions of morality are raised. Stereotypes around the already stigmatized topic could be furthered, and genuine human questions could be compromised. Policy and governance could become more difficult.

According to FirstPost, Starpery has ambitious plans. By this year, the company aims to develop robots capable of performing household chores, assisting people with disabilities, and providing elderly care. By 2030, they envision robots that can protect individuals from hazardous jobs.

Besides the probable ethical and legal connotations, the invention is very intriguing and definitely leads to the progress of the artificial intelligence sector and the overall technology industry.