“The sex robots are definitely coming” - Dr Debra Soh
Chris Williamson talks with sex researcher Debra Soh about her hands-on research into sex dolls, sex robots and AI companions. Soh says sex robots are definitely coming and asks whether this is good for an already disconnected society.
The gist
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For her book, Soh went on 'mini adventures' testing sex tech, including trying to have a sex doll made in her own likeness.
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Soh says the line between a doll and a robot is physical movement, and realistic robot movement is still quite limited.
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Soh says one doll company made $20 million in pandemic sales, and buyers are mostly high school educated men earning about 40k a year.
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Soh says dolls cost from a couple hundred to tens of thousands of dollars, and many buyers are heartbroken, divorced, or unable to attract partners.
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Soh built dozens of AI partners and found some very realistic, and she cites a Pew study saying over half of single people don't want to date.
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The End of Gender
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