Move over blowup dolls, sex robots are here! And while the mere notion of their existence reeks of tech from a distant future, their roots can actually be traced to annals of human history. In this video, we’ll take a comprehensive look at sex robots, where they’ve been, where they are, and where they may take our desires in the not so distant future.
Let’s travel back to 1927, which saw the release of Metropolis, a silent film featuring a female protagonist who morphs into a literal robot. Although her design wasn’t explicitly intended for sexual purposes, the notion of women being equated to robots embedded itself within narratives, a notion that has persisted through time.
In the swinging 1960s, fembots surged onto American television screens with shows like “My Living Doll” (1964). The sitcom portrayed Rhoda Miller, or AF709, as she endeavored to grasp human emotions and behaviors under the guidance of Dr. Bob Miller, her creator’s friend.
In 1972, the satirical thriller “The Stepford Wives”, which later found its cinematic adaptations in 1975 and 2014, revolved around eerily subservient women replaced by submissive fembots, thereby highlighting the underlying theme of replacing real wives with obedient replicas.
The post-apocalyptic cyberpunk sci-fi film “Cherry 2000”, released in 1987, delved into the protagonist’s malfunctioning gynoid wife, leading him on a quest to find the perfect replacement, perpetuating the notion of women as interchangeable objects.
And we can’t forget about 1997’s Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, which hilariously incorporated AI-equipped fembots into its plot, embracing the trend of weaving such robotic elements into various genres.
Rise of the Sex Dolls
What began as a mix of creativity and fantasy burgeoned into an emerging industry – though not without technical difficulties.
In 2005, German aircraft mechanic Michael Harriman embarked on a unique journey, birthing the sex doll named Andy. This pioneering creation simulated human-like breathing, manifesting pants of pleasure during intimate interactions, while her synthetic heart mirrored quickened beats. Employing internal heating mechanisms, her body temperature rose, except for her feet, which remained cool to the touch. Andy, responsive to remote control commands, even boasted a hip-wiggling feature. While her era has passed, the tantalizing sensory attributes she flirted with are now teetering on the brink of realization in contemporary commercial models.
Spanish engineer Sergei Santos of Synthea Amatus crafted his own entry into the world of intimate robotics – Samantha. Santos dedicated around 15 years to conceptualizing Samantha before unveiling her for sale at a whopping five thousand dollars in 2017. Samantha, a creation more reminiscent of a plastic doll than a lifelike human, demanded the art of romancing before engagement. She boasted the versatility to switch between eight personas, ranging from ‘family mode’ to ‘sexy mode,’ with an SD card slot discreetly nestled in her head for potential updates. Samantha’s peculiar appearance generated significant media coverage. Nevertheless, her infamous low point transpired at an Austrian electronics fair in 2017, where intrigued male attendees left a Samantha model in an unfortunate state, necessitating her return to Spain for repairs and cleansing.
General Thoughts on Sex Dolls
So sex-charged robots are buzzing amongst us. But are they here to stay? Well according to 2020 study, men, unsurprisingly, are more open to the ideal than their female counterparts. The research brought up the interesting infidelity angle. While most of don’t look at using a vibrator or similar toy as cheating, things get dicey when introducing an artificial intelligence powered partner that not only has the ability to create a physical experience, but engage in conversation as well.
Nevertheless, some pundits believe that marriage between humans and robots will be a common occurrence within the next 30 years. The advent of sex robot brothels suggested a potential shift in the industry, with robots possibly replacing human sex workers before supplanting human life partners. However, leading sexbot manufacturers assert that consumer demand leans more towards companionship.
The idea of robots attaining a form of artificial sentience, akin to robot consciousness, is entertained by many scientists and scholars. This could eventually lead to a sexbot being programmed to reciprocate feelings of love, creating a complex realm of “fake love.” In light of our own inherent programming to experience love due to our biological makeup, questions arise regarding the authenticity of human love. Ultimately, the dilemma shifts from whether robots can love to whether they should, particularly if the prospect of robots replacing human connections triggers apprehension.