AI? Check! Lifelike movements? Ditto! But what about what makes sexbots go?

From unaesthetically blocky humanoid robot prototypes incapable of walking across a stage let alone ascend a couple of stairs, to today’s elegantly strolling, seductively stylish Xpeng’s IRON model, it certainly looks like our dreams of super lifelike, fully autonomous, artificial-intelligence-driven, synthetic companions may be right around the corner.

But we have one unfortunately large technological hurdle yet to overcome. That is, in order to untether our wildest, independently functioning sexbot dreams, we need to figure out how to keep them charged—at least for more than a few minutes at a time.

Electric Avenue

Compared with making robots move less like machines and more closely resemble a sort-of-living, kind-of-breathing person with natural movement, and covering their inner mechanisms with a supple, lifelike skin, you’d think building a suitably powerful and necessarily compact battery would be a proverbial snap.

RECOMMENDED READ: Microsoft AI’s CEO Swears To “Never Build A Sex Robot”

The problem is power isn’t an exclusively robotic dilemma. The electric vehicles industry, for instance, has been struggling with it for years, and while companies utilizing lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) or nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries are achieving truly impressive mileages, the technology remains far too big, heavy, and especially expensive for artificial companion developers to ever use.

With that in mind, it seems we might have two possible solutions. The first is to wait until technology reduces the cost, size, and weight of high-capacity LFP or NMC batteries—which may take so much time as to be practically impossible.

Electric Love

The other is to take a page from life itself by making tomorrow’s artificial companions move efficientlyas well as realistically—so they could function longer with much less juice.

For example, soft robotics swaps complicated arrays of bulky, energy-hungry mechanical motors for fewer, generally lighter, hydraulic systems that essentially mirror how human muscles work. Not only that, but soft technology also looks, feels, and acts more naturally. 

Meaning next-gen artificial companions wouldn’t have to squander priceless joules making—and likely failing—to make a clunky collection of servos and miles of wiring move like a human when soft robotic engineering can already do precisely that.

Then there’s the issue of their brains. As we’re growing increasingly aware, artificial intelligence hardware requires a lot of power which, in turn, needs another lot of cooling—resulting in even more lots of weight.

Of course, we might see the development of newer, more energy-efficient AI hardware in the not-too-distant future, or perhaps the software side won’t need so much of the former to run.

Nice to dream, but we also might take a different approach by making tomorrow’s artificial companions brainless.

Plug In Baby

What I mean is rather than cramming all those electricity-hungry chips into an artificial companion’s noggin, we instead take a page from another, already well-established, energy-efficient technology.

Ever use a Chromebook or MacBook Air? If you’re not already familiar, both are basically web browsers masquerading as laptops and while nearly useless without Wi-Fi, their minimalization also means they need far less power than their larger, hungrier brethren.

So why not use their approach and build artificial companions with high-speed Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, whichever is faster and more reliable, and not big, power-demanding brains? While there might be a few obvious trade-offs, like needing to have a constant, high-speed internet connection, they also might be able to do everything we want for hours or possibly days of nonstop use rather than scant minutes at a time.

She’s electric

Likewise, we could ditch batteries altogether—or at least not have to build them to do all the heavy lifting. Inspired by another, already familiar bit of household tech, why not construct our artificial companions with a bevy of well-placed induction charging points?

Installing them in … well, their backsides might be ideal as all they’d have to do to top off their batteries is sit down on a complementary-equipped chair or stretch out on their own charging bed. Though it might mean they couldn’t walk, talk, or do all the other fun things we might like them to do for days at a stretch, their considerably smaller batteries would make them lighter and more efficient.

Will we eventually solve the artificial companion battery problem? Of course, but if developers tried thinking outside their technological boxes, we might have them walking, talking, and loving us much sooner than later.

Image Sources: Depositphotos

The post Plug and Play: How Power Is the Last Great Hurdle for Synthetic Companions appeared first on Future of Sex.

What takes science, art, and a lot of skill may soon be as easy as one, two, three

Ever wondered what goes into highly personalized, uniquely styled, and largely hand-made sexbots? Pulling back the curtain, several prominent manufacturers have now begun detailing exactly what goes into producing their one-of-a-kind synthetic companions.

Definitely interesting, especially in light of how rapidly the industry’s been growing over the last few years, due to how enthusiastically consumers show interest in increasingly advanced models equipped with Large Language Model (LLM), artificial intelligence capabilities.

But what’s even more fascinating is how the current time-consuming and often exorbitantly expensive process might become considerably less difficult, far more cost-effective, and therefore more affordable, as well as open up exciting new possibilities for their designers to explore.

A little bit of this

One such industry promo on Filthy reports that their process begins with a collaboration between their in-house artists and what a potential client is looking for, which may or may not include a certain amount of 3D modeling.

RECOMMENDED READ: Artificial Companion Designers: Time To Think Beyond Just Sex?

However, it’s worth noting the company doesn’t disclose any restrictions or safeguards in place that prevent a customer from requesting their synthetic companion to nonconsensually resemble another person.  

As we’ve repeatedly reported, this is an issue not just for the physical synthetic companion industry to address, but also because it is painfully similar to how the generative AI companies repeatedly fail to protect people from having their deepfake likenesses or personalities used or sold without their permission.

A little bit of that

Once the client’s expectations have been established, the next step is essentially the production of any non-customized companion, which involves pouring flexible TPE plastic or silicon into a specially formed mold and around a multi-joined steel or aluminum skeleton.

After curing, the next and final step is to give it all sorts of human touches, such as whatever skin tone, hair color or style, eyes, and sexual components the customer requested.

Although this example is relatively simple, other manufacturers may offer increasingly sophisticated options, which could include bio-mechanical movements such as lifelike features, automatically moving eyes, lips, or the ability for the companion to track its head back and forth.  

To give you an idea of what these other models are capable of, just look at any of RealDoll’s products—with the notable exception of their new Realbotix models, which, as we covered, have been puzzlingly de-eroticised. 

Sugar and spice

Looking ahead a few years, the process of fabricating customized synthetic companions could be easier and cheaper by leveraging a bit of virtual assistance to make.  

Not only in making companions act and talk progressively more realistically but AI image generation software could aid in helping clients visualize their ideal companion.  

Ideally with protections in place preventing anyone from illicitly copying someone else’s appearance or personality, we could see a system where your instructions would be given to a specially coded artificial intelligence directing large scale 3D printers to either form a mold for your companion or to build everything all at once.

Snips and snails

We might go even further towards achieving quick, low-cost, and everyday accessibility through modularity.  For example, while a companion’s overall shape and appearance, along with any other customer-preferred characteristics, would be customizable, its internal mechanism would instead be pre-made, ready to install whenever needed.

Sexual components, servos and actuators, internal processors—all of these and more could someday be check-boxes for you or anyone else to tick off when ordering your exclusively customized artificial companion.

Not only that, but there’s a real possibility these types of user-created companions may be even less costly to produce than when they have come to the end of their operational lifespans, or their owners might merely want to try something different. Their latex, silicone, or plastic components could be recycled. At the same time, their modular components are stored away or repeatedly reused.

It’s likely, given technological advances, that 2025’s high-priced, customized synthetic companions will probably be the anyone-who-wants-one-can-have-one sexually pleasurable product by the 2030s, if not sooner.

Image Source: Depositphotos

The post Hello Dolly: Today’s Customized Synthetic Companions Set the Stage for Tomorrow’s Pleasures appeared first on Future of Sex.

Don’t worry; the original RealDoll will still produce fully functional ones

Chaste as a Barbie doll, Realbotix’s Aria lacks any below-the-belt equipment but still garnered a lot of attention despite her reveal amid numerous high-tech pleasure products at the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

A company spokesman told Futurism, “Aria does not have genitalia. She is not anatomically correct and has a hard shell body. And is not meant for sex.”

AI-equipped and capable of lifelike facial expressions, Aria’s not merely a single, unique product but signals an entirely new direction for the long-established artificial companion manufacturer. The same spokesperson said, “Realbotix no longer produces sex products.”

Though likely coming as a shock to the sexbot community, the company’s focus has changed. As Aria herself told CNET, “Realbotix robots, including me, focus on social intelligence, customizability, and realistic human features, designed specifically for companionship and intimacy. ” 

Abyss Creations will remain a subsidiary, continuing to design and sell its high-end, anatomically correct, RealDoll products.

Who owns who—and what it means

Originally founded by Matt McMullen in 1996, Abyss Creations quickly established itself as one of the world’s premier sexdoll manufacturers, a reputation further enhanced in 2015 when work began on its Realdollx artificial intelligence system, supported by its current smartphone app.

Realbotix’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), McMullen, described the development of AI-assisted artificial companions to KPBS, saying:

“It’s not the technology that’s to be feared as it is the intent behind it. And for us, where really a lot of our focus is on people who would benefit from having a presence in their life, who can’t find the way to bond with another human being for whatever reason they choose not to, and I think these dolls fill that void for some people.”

RECOMMENDED READ: State of the Sexbot Market: The World’s Best Sex Robot and AI Sex Doll Companies [UPDATED]

The company’s direction changed early last year when Tokens.com a Canadian crypto enterprise co-founded by Andrew Kiguel purchased Simulacra, Abyss Creations’ parent company, for 16 million in stocks.  

Explaining the decision to shift the Realdollx division away from sex to Forbes, Kiguel said, “Ties to the adult industry make it hard to finance and some robot customers are sensitive to being attached to the companion dolls.”

Who buys what and why?

Kiguel’s statement may scratch more than a few heads, particularly in light of the rapidly growing, sex-equipped artificial companion marketplace, not to mention the rapidly increasing iDollator community. 

In the same Futurism article, one X (formerly Twitter) user mocked Realbotix’s neither-fish-nor-fowl approach, “They made this weird thing that looks like Chucky and moves like It’s a Small World After All presumably for people who would bang it, but they can’t bang it lol.”

Realbotix seems to accept Aria might be challenging to market, adding, “We agree, she wouldn’t be the right appearance for a hospital, but maybe a concierge at a casino.”

Bringing up what may, or rather should, be a quite obvious question: why bother building anything, let alone an extremely expensive robot, with such a potentially narrow market? On top of this, Realbotix will be directly competing against tech giants without adult entertainment backgrounds.

Not out of desire but of concern?

It could be argued Kiguel’s Realbotix de-sexualization isn’t so much a move towards mainstreaming artificial companions as it is about trying to avoid dealing with anything sex-related.

Though Realdoll will continue manufacturing premium-quality, optionally AI-equipped products, Kiguel’s statement about the challenges of financing a company with adult entertainment connections could also lie in Token.com’s budgetary issues.

Specifically, its 2021 almost two-and-a-half million dollar purchase of overly-inflated Decentraland virtual property.  

Whatever Token.com’s reasoning, playing it safe and attempting to recoup its losses by keeping Realbotix genitalia-free or a sexuality-based company is financially and personally uncomfortable, McMullen’s dream of producing artificial companions will continue.

Speaking to KPBS, he put a very human, wonderfully supportive face on the community, adding:

I think there’s a lot of misconceptions about the people that buy and own these dolls. I think they are wonderful, often very kind, down-to-earth people that you just wouldn’t expect that to be sort of stereotype of a doll owner. But really they are just amazing people in general, the ones that I have met have been friends of mine for years.

Image Sources: RealDoll, Depositphotos

The post Nothing Between Their Legs: New Realbotix Artificial Companions Aren’t Sexbots appeared first on Future of Sex.

After nearly 50 years, respected manufacturer is finally shutting down

Orient Industry, which many in Japan consider their country’s foremost sexdoll designer and builder, recently posted to its corporate site that it will soon cease operations.

As reported by SoraNews24, what was unique was how the announcement was made, that it demonstrated a touching level of kindness and respect—and in the process possibly negatively impacting their customers’ emotional well-being. A lesson we hope similar manufacturers will take to heart when it comes time to close their doors

Farewell vinyl, hello silicone

Orient Industry was founded in 1977 by Hideo Tsuchiy, who realized the industry could definitely do with some much-needed improvements. Talking to SoraNews24, he explained, “In those days, [the love dolls] didn’t feel good because they were made of vinyl.”

The answer he found lay in alternative materials like silicone, which that same year resulted in the creation of Bisho, which roughly translates as “subtle smile.”

Retailing for what would today be roughly 700 USD, which, despite being a tremendous sum at the time, it quickly became a runaway bestseller—cementing Orient Industry as a highly respected manufacturer within Japan’s synthetic companion community.

Importantly, Orient Industry’s success could also due to how much they respect their customer base

“We would be very happy” 

Citing Hideo Tsuchiy’s declining health, Orient Industry’s press release might, at first glance, seem less than compassionate, though as SoraNews24 points out, there are cultural contexts to consider.

Not only that, but you have to factor in Tsuchiy’s extensive history of seeing his company’s customers not as Yen-signs but as people, noting in a 2015 interview, “Tsuchiya spoke of how his company’s goals included providing comfort for widowers or couples where the wife, due to physical ailments or other reasons, could not engage in intercourse.”

RECOMMENDED READ: Chinese Manufacturer Says Their Synthetic Companions Have ‘Souls”

Putting all this together, it should be apparent why the following moved us—as well as Orient Industry’s fanbase:

This is sudden, but our founder, Hideo Tsuchiya, who has been leading our company, Orient Industry, for many years, has made the decision to retire and prioritize his health. We would like to take this moment to express our sincere gratitude to all of our customers and partners who have believed in and supported Orient Industry. In consideration of our owner’s health condition and out of respect to his wishes, the company has decided to cease operations. If you are able to keep the times we were able to be a part of your life, and the times we walked the same path, in your memories, we would be very happy.

More than plastic, more than dolls

Tsuchiya’s far from the only compassionate Japanese synthetic companion manufacturer.  

In fact, a few years ago, we covered how an offshoot of Human Love Doll Factory offered three-tier doll funerals.  The premier of which gives owners an opportunity to view the service in person or via Zoom, full documentation, a set of commemorative photos, and even a piece of the cherished doll to take home. 

Saying goodbye

Mirroring Tsuchiya’s retirement, people who found sexual satisfaction, emotional fulfillment, and meaningful relationships with his company’s artificial companions need—no, deserve to be able to process their grief in a variety of psychologically healthy and life-affirming ways.

Shinto, the Japanese belief that everything is in some way alive, may help explain Tsuchiya and Human Love Doll Factory’s empathy, but what’s needed is a universal approach to acknowledging, respecting, and supporting the bond between artificial companions and their human partners.

How they might come about is anyone’s guess.  That said, as poll after poll continues to reveal, people are steadily growing more open and understanding towards the merging of sex and technology.  

It may eventually lead to a point where artificial companion relationships may be viewed on par with the biological variety.

As the growing prevalence of erotic and romantic chatbots have correspondingly shown, there might be no difference between virtual and physical emotional connections. So when either comes to an end, it could be socially acceptable to bid them goodbye.

Perhaps we might see ceremonies involving unique virtual or real-world rites designed to ease the pain of those left behind and guide the departed on their journey to a bright new afterlife—one where everyone, be they made or born, is welcome.

Image Sources: Depositphotos

The post “The Times We Walked the Same Path:” Japanese Sexdoll Company Bids Its Customers a Fond Farewell appeared first on Future of Sex.

Beyond fantasy—the evolution and variety of artificial companions

Realistic sex dolls are life-sized dolls with internal metal skeletons, pliable PVC or TPE flesh, and sometimes even magnetic head and body shells that can be easily “posed” in different poses for display, photography, and animated movies. 

The word “doll” does not refer to these models as sex toys, but only to their use as works of art or decoration, as they are so detailed that many people buy them just to admire them.

You can buy different types of sex dolls in the market. From inflatables and silicone love dolls to metal and fiberglass dolls, sex dolls come in a variety of varieties; all of which are made of high-quality materials that are durable and can be used for a long time.

The price of a sex doll depends on your preference for the material used, whichever is more expensive. If you want to buy a male or female sex doll, you can search for information about sex dolls online. Men prefer sex dolls made of metal and fiberglass to those made of silicone.

Silicone is a high-quality material that helps you take care of your body easily; it is more durable than inflatables. Dolls made of metal and fiberglass are heavier than silicone dolls. You can adjust the height of the sex doll according to your choice.

There are many advantages of realistic sex dolls, including: allowing people who are unable to have sex due to physical disabilities to do so, and allowing couples who are far apart or who just want to be alone for one night to share intimacy. There are many benefits and advantages of sex dolls, but there are also some disadvantages. 

The types of realistic sex dolls on the market include:

TPE simulation dolls

This type of sex doll is made from a soft material called thermoplastic elastomer, which is basically a combination of two materials, silicon and plastic. TPE sex dolls feel more realistic, more flexible, and warmer to the touch.

Latex simulation dolls

This type of realistic sex doll uses latex as its skin, so it will feel firmer in your hand than a TPE sex doll. However, this type of sex doll is not environmentally friendly because its latex material can be harmful to the environment during the synthesis process. This makes them more costly to dispose of as disposal through other means can cause serious damage to the environment.

Silicone simulated sex dolls

This type is the closest to a real human female. They have a primitive sexual texture and are self-cleaning after use, making them the closest to real women. In addition, their weight can be adjusted up or down to suit your needs, allowing you to completely customize them to your liking!

As for the downside, these sex dolls in USA come in an extremely wide range of prices, up to thousands of dollars. This particular type of erotic toy is durable, which means that it doesn’t need to be easily replaced if properly cared for.

Image Sources: BestRealDoll 

The post The Artistry of Intimacy: Realistic Sex Dolls Unveiled appeared first on Future of Sex.