Can Today's Sex Robots Offer a Relationship?

Sex robots are here. They exist. With sufficient money, you could buy one today and have it delivered to you. These robots, by immediate definition, are nothing more than mechanical entities designed for the purpose of providing sexual pleasure.

Does that basic definition meet our perceptions of what a sex robot should be and what we actually want or need from these humanoids? John Danaher (2018) places three conditions on sex robots to be sexual entities: (1) They must be in humanoid form, (2) they must possess human-like behaviors and movements, and (3) they must possess some degree of artificial intelligence. So, modifying your Roomba to sexually satisfy you would not constitute a sex robot.

Before we consider if the current technological offerings adhere to Danaher’s conditions, let’s meet some of the sex robots:

Roxxxy: Billed as the first sex robot from True Companion, Roxxxy did not live up to early hype and promises. Potential customers came away from demonstrations disappointed, with some critics likening Roxxxy to little more than an advanced sex doll. Sensors permit Roxxxy to react to touch in a limited capacity. Control of Roxxxy comes from cables running from her back to a laptop. Roxxxy does not have movement of her own but is anatomically correct. But it is the companionship that is truly being sold. Roxxxy has a programmable personality, and while you can talk to her, she can only respond from prerecorded phrases. Introduced in 2010, Roxxxy has yet to move much beyond that initial foray into the world of sex robots.

Luxury Humanoids: These humanoids from Lux Biotics are for more than sexual and romantic relationships; they also provide general and specific services, such as elder care. Currently, not all body parts fully function, as the sex-specialized hips and facial expressions are still in the works, but they have a skeletal system designed for sexual motion and the robots can grip and handle sex toys. Lux Biotics is also in the business of employing 3D modeling technology to “clone” one’s partner after their loved one passes away.

Harmony: While Roxxxy may be considered to be the first sex robot, Harmony is advertised as having the distinction of being the first AI sex robot. A robotic body in the works, only Harmony’s head (with interchangeable faces) moves and talks.

And, in case you were wondering, Henry is in development. Standing six feet tall and weighing 84 lbs, Henry has a British accent, can recite poetry, and tells jokes.

Emma: Out of China, AI Tech brings us Emma. Emma’s body contains a skeletal structure; she blinks and moves her head, smiles, and speaks in both English and Chinese. Specially positioned, built-in sensors cause Emma to moan when she is touched. As far as AI, Emma learns the more you talk to her. She can remember names and preferences. And though Emma has a physical form (which can be heated to body temperature), the AI system is less advanced than the virtual girlfriend you can find on the Replika app. In both cases, it is easy to trip up and confuse the system, and questions easily lead to circular non-answers.

Cat Girls (Lilium Robotics): As the name implies, this AI humanoid comes complete with tail and cat ears. Cat girls include an AI chatbot and audiobook reader and can be controlled by an app. They make sex sounds, can be put in sexual positions, and claim to have a large range of motion. It should be noted that these are not large humanoids. Cat Girls are barely over three feet in height and weigh slightly over 11 lbs.

Miss Doll: From China, Miss Doll was specifically designed as an oral sex robot. The movements are designed as such.

Doll Sweet: Another offering from China, Doll Sweet must be fully controlled by a smartphone or video game controller.

Samantha: With the ability of the user to create Samantha’s personality, she can discuss a wide range of topics, from philosophy to news events, or tell jokes. Implanted sensors permit Samantha to respond to touch.

Eva and Susie Software: Other offerings by Eden Robotics and MacMil Cybernetics are not very far in their development. What captures the eye first is that they both have very large bodies holding up tiny heads. There is no easy comparison to human bodies or the ability to easily suspend reality.

Source: Tara Winstead/Pexels

As should be evident from these examples, technology has only come so far. Movement, facial expressions, and AI are advancing in many cases, but we are still far away from a humanoid companion that can carry on an actual conversation and significantly replicate a partner-contributing sexual experience. What is offered at the present moment is far more advanced than the blow-up sex dolls of the past but still far from passing some sort of sex robot Turing Test.

At this stage, however, can these sex robots give humans what we need and want?

Taking Danaher’s conditions of a sexual entity into consideration, are they in humanoid form? If we are considering a humanoid to be a non-human entity with human features and characteristics, then, arguably, yes, this condition passes in many examples—although not to the point that we could mistake the humanoid for a human.

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Does the robot exhibit human behaviors and movements? While the human and the robot may both be able to raise their arms, a human does so in a fluid motion, whereas the robots tend to do so in a jerky motion. Still, if the robot can move in essentially the same way, some sex robots would adhere to this condition. But this mimicry of motion is limited, as the examples provided suggest. Such limitations in behavior and motion would support the argument that this condition is not fully met.

Finally, is there at least some degree of AI? This is very subjective (“some degree” is already a very low bar), and the degrees of limitations of even the best AI in the current offering of sex robots leave a lot to be desired. Is there some AI? Yes. Is it very advanced? No.

Are these, then, sexual entities? It could be argued that some are, while others do not meet the criteria.

If all an individual wants is some rudimentary sexual response from a robot, then some of the current models will perfectly satisfy their needs and desires. But a mere sexual response is not satisfactory to many. Yes, sex is a component, but what about a more romantic or nurturing relationship to accompany that sexual gratification? What about the ability to connect on a deeper level with a humanoid? A lack of motion mimicry and high-level AI capabilities severely fail to meet these needs. The sexual needs of humans are complex and involve many non-sexual factors, such as the psychological need for trust, an emotional connection, security, and nurturing components. Humans also want to feel sexually desired by their partner, and feeling desired is not the same as being told they are desired by a pre-programmed phrase.

Will there come a time when a robotic companion will have the capacity to provide the full host of needs of a human mind and body? Almost certainly. Are they the future of sex? To an extent, yes. David Levy (2007) suggests that human/robot intimate relationships will exist in society in the next few decades and that they will transform our ideas of love and sexuality. To get to that place, technology needs to advance exponentially, and a renegotiation of social normativity needs to take place. Are we heading in that direction? Some would argue that we are.