Will smart sex toys become just as good as the real thing?

At first glance, the sheer number of vibrators on the market can make sex toy shopping feel overwhelming, complicated, and confusing. Trying to find the right fit becomes as difficult as looking for a needle in a haystack.

But what if there were a one-size-fits-all vibrator? Or maybe even a one-size-pleases-all vibrator?

The OiVita team, also the creators of the crowdfunded ORing, has developed a vibrator it claims will revolutionize self-pleasure with its ability to remember what you like.

According to OiVita’s Indiegogo campaign, the new OVibe “serves as a sweet, warm partner.” Its features include a water-resistant and wireless sleek exterior as well as the ability to heat up to a comfortable 104-degrees Fahrenheit, mimicking natural body heat.

OiVita reached its fundraising goal of $30,000 in August and the OVibe vibrators are expected to ship to backers in October.

A grower, not a shower

Aside from these neat new tricks, another distinct feature is its patented smart growth technology. This function allows the vibrator’s tip to expand an additional 37% in response to the woman’s immediate needs. OiVita boasts the device’s artificial intelligence makes this growth possible once it learns your ins and outs.

This AI technology, being its most notable feature, is a benefit available to any user with a smartphone. Through the app, the OVibe can learn and recreate the user’s preferred vibration patterns after a just a few uses. Eventually, the user can simply lie back and let the AI work its magic, explains the prototype’s Indiegogo crowdfunding page.

A tale of two vibes

OiVita isn’t the only vibe claiming to harness the power of AI for personal pleasure. Designed by physicists Aaron Hammack and Jonathan Driscoll, the Hum vibrator gained attention during a successful 2014 Indiegogo campaign and is now available for pre-order.

However, there’s a stark difference between the two devices even as each development team claims theirs is the world’s first artificially intelligent vibrator. While the OVibe uses an app to learn a woman’s wants, Hum uses a built-in AI to respond to the user’s movements and contractions mimicking the experiences of being with a real-life partner.

Hum’s internal sensors allow it to collect tactile data and movement details in order for it to “react” to the user’s body. Developers say it can automatically change its vibration intensity without the use of buttons or remotes. Everything is done from within.

Which to pick?

Keep in mind that although the OVibe has an AI-controlled app, users without access to a smartphone would lose out on the majority of its AI benefits. The vibrator would still have its regular functions; however, the user would have to take it into their own hands to start and finish the job. Some might argue that Hum has a better integrated AI system —but with Hum, users would be missing out on the automated body heat and the 37% growth spurt.

OVibe will also offer its users a community network via the OiVita app where women can exchange the vibration patterns they create. While some might be reluctant to share their personal data at first, most people know that sharing tips and tricks with others usually benefits everyone and encourages self-exploration.

Our future with AI vibrators

The development of artificially intelligent adult devices prompts the question: will human physical interaction and connection become obsolete in the near future? If, on the one hand, we have a vibrator that can expand when a woman needs it most, and on the other a vibrator that can move in synch to her rhythm and touch, will there come a time when a vibrator could possibly satisfy a woman’s sexual needs in every respect?

What will happen if such technologies are integrated into fully functional pleasure bots? These two vibrators might be the final piece of the puzzle. Perhaps, one day, just the idea of connecting with another human physically will become a nostalgic concept. Or maybe what these AI-enhanced devices will teach us about ourselves could equip us with the knowledge to become better lovers with human partners.

Image sources: OiVita, Hum