China's next generation of AI-equipped 'sex robots' could soon take over the market
There are an increasing number of services that allow you to enjoy interacting with chatbots, such as
China's next-gen sexbots powered by AI are about to hit the shelves | South China Morning Post
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3266964/chinas-next-gen-sexbots-powered-ai-are-about-hit-shelves
Starpery Technology, a major sex doll manufacturer based in Shenzhen, China, has reportedly been training a large-scale language model (LLM) to be incorporated into its sex robots. The AI to be installed will be available in male and female versions, and the first version is scheduled to be completed by 2024.
'We are developing a sex doll that can interact with users through voice and body, and we expect to have a prototype ready by August 2024,' the company's CEO, Evan Lee, told Hong Kong media outlet South China Morning Post. 'Reproducing real human interactions is a technical challenge. It's easy to make a simple conversation happen, but to create interactive responses requires complex models created by specialized software makers.'
Traditional sex dolls, with their metal frames and silicone exteriors, are limited to simple movements, but next-generation sex dolls equipped with AI models and sensors will be able to respond with gestures and words, going beyond basic conversation and focusing on emotional connection, greatly improving the user experience, Lee said.
by
Starpery Technology has focused on overseas markets so far, but now has its sights set on the domestic market. Li said China, despite being a conservative society that shuns such topics, is also the world's largest sex doll market, with combined sales exceeding those of the United States, Japan and Germany combined.
'The industry knows that China has a huge market and the purchasing power of its major cities exceeds that of many Western countries,' Li said. 'The market is interested, but there are differences in aesthetic sensibilities between China and the West.'
Starpery Technology's roadmap also includes robots that can perform household chores, assist the disabled, and care for the elderly. Specifically, the company plans to launch the first 'smart service robot' capable of complex care for the disabled by 2025. And by 2030, it aims to create robots that can perform dangerous jobs in place of humans.
Developing such a robot faces two major challenges: battery capacity and artificial muscles. Unlike electric cars, humanoid robots do not have the space to mount large batteries, so the battery's energy density must be improved to power the robot.
Additionally, to maintain realism, robots are generally limited to a weight of 40 kg. However, this weight places too much strain on current motors, posing a risk of the robot falling over and injuring the user.
So Starpery Technology first reviewed the materials and manufacturing process to reduce the weight, and in July 2023, a doll that was 172 cm tall and weighed only 29 kg was completed. Still, Lee believes that it will take about 10 years for servo motors to be developed that can create household robots.
by starperydollofficial
In addition to these technical challenges, AI sex robots also face ethical issues. Criticism of the technology includes that excessive reliance on AI companions for sexual or emotional fulfilment could weaken real human connections and impact users' ability to form healthy relationships with real humans.
In addition, the rapid development of AI is exceeding existing legal and regulatory frameworks, creating legal grey areas regarding use, ownership, and the liability of manufacturers and users.
In research published in 2023, the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology pointed out that 'AI that can make decisions under certain conditions may pose a challenge to human autonomy and self-awareness. LLM also carries the risk of information leaks and privacy violations, as user information may become material for training generative AI.'
Related Posts:
