- By Vikas Yadav
- Mon, 24 Jun 2024 03:20 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Artificial Intelligence has been among the top keywords in the technological landscape in recent times. While some laud potential opportunities offered by the technology, others remain sceptical of its future possibilities. In a recent update, a report from the South China Morning Post said scientists and engineers in China are using ChatGPT-like technology for sex robots. They aim to build an interactive AI companion amid technical and ethical concerns.
Sex toy maker Shenzhen Starpery Technology is training an AI large language model to improve its products, including sex dolls. As per the report, the sex dolls will be available in both male and female forms. As per the CEO Evan Lee, the next generation sex doll, having unprecedented capabilities, can interact vocally and physically, according to the report. The prototypes for the technology could be available in August 2024.
Lee claims simple dialogues are easy, but achieving realistic human interactions is a big challenge. "Creating interactive responses involves complex model development by specialised software companies," he added. The report said the traditional dolls are supported by a metal skeleton and silicone outer shell and can only engage in simple responses. They also lack the expression abilities to interact with humans.
Powered by AI, the new dolls will get a host of sensors and speech and movement capabilities to enhance the user experience and focus on "emotional connection rather than just basic conversational abilities", Lee stated. The CEO sees China as a key market for the product among other regions.
The current AI-powered toys lack the emotional capabilities to interact with people. (Image:Unsplash)
The roadmap of Starpery also includes robots for helping people in daily household activities and people with disabilities, offering aged care, doing hazardous jobs and more. However, the challenge of battery space crunch and artificial muscles remains. While the dolls can weigh 40kg for realism, the 2023 versions weigh just 29kg for safety concerns.
Starpery dolls are priced around $1,500. For context, the advanced Harmony doll by Abyss Creations in the US starts from $6,000. Meanwhile, other Chinese makers like WMdoll, EXdoll and more are also planning to launch interactive AI physical dolls. However, the pace of advancements in this sector can blur ethical frontiers and raise risks such as data leaks and privacy violations. The lack of robust legal and regulatory frameworks may fuel such innovations at a rapid speed.