R2-DTF? Chinese Company is Building the Next Generation of AI-Powered Sex Robots

Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered sex robots that can communicate like people aren't that far off.

Starpery Technology, a Shenzhen-based startup, is set to make a significant impact in the sexy tech industry with its next series of AI-powered sex robots.

In spite of China's reputation as a more conservative country where discussing sex is frowned upon, Starpery's CEO, Even Lee, told the South China Morning Post that the country's sex doll market is really more significant than the combined markets of Japan, Germany, and the US.

Industry insiders are aware that China has a sizable market, with large cities' purchasing power outstripping that of several European nations. Despite being stylistically distinct from the European market, the market is likewise open-minded, according to Lee.

That makes sense, given that Shenzhen is situated in the southern Guangdong region of China, which is the largest sex toy production hub in the world.

For Starpery, this site significantly reduces production costs, which are then passed on to the client. Starpery charges around $1,500, while the US-based company RealDoll charges over $8,000 for high-quality work (their new RealDoll X range of AI robot heads with a full body costs about $11,000).

"Guangdong's supply chain is comprehensive, and producers react swiftly to consumer demands. According to Lee, new technologies are typically first noticed in items before appearing elsewhere the following month.

Training sex robots to interact like humans

Although Starpery's dolls currently include automatic suction, heating, and touch-sensitive moaning, Lee hopes to go one step further by integrating Large Language Models.

Lee stated that there are still technological obstacles to overcome, especially in order to achieve genuine human contact. "While basic dialogue is simple, expert software companies must develop complex models in order to create interactive responses."

Through the use of large language models, or LLM for short, Starpery could significantly enhance the diversity, intonation, and personalization of their female and male dolls' verbal reactions. LLMs are based on massive collections of human speech data, just like other generative AI.

Customers will eventually be able to customize these models to create the ideal personality for their sex bot by selecting and combining specific personality qualities. For example, users might make the sultry yet modest brunette or the ferocious and flaming redhead of their desires.

Tackling the challenges of creating lifelike sex robots

Lee hopes to make the doll move realistically and enhance its personality and communication abilities. After all, that's what distinguishes "robots" from "dolls."

"With sensors and AI models, the new generation of sex dolls can react with both speech and movement, greatly improving the user experience by emphasizing emotional connection rather than just basic conversational abilities," Lee stated.

The process of developing the ideal sex bot is not without its challenges. According to Lee, fabricating phoney muscles and battery capacity are the two main problems.

The battery is a problem. A considerable battery is needed to supply enough juice to power a humanoid robot. Current Starpery functions, such as speech and touch sensitivity, rely on wirelessly connected external controls and speakers, while the suction function is connected to a port on the doll's body.

Where would the battery go if the objective is to have everything in a single package—or is it a single body? Starpery has not yet discovered the answer, but they are in the process of doing so.

Current motor technology is unable to replicate the full range of motion that actual muscles can exhibit when they flex, relax, or bend.

It's also not inexpensive to create realistic motion.

Reducers, which distribute power between the motor and the joints, are essential for humanoid robots and typically account for over 30% of the overall construction cost. This can raise Starpery's already extremely low costs.

While adding motors will raise the price [to] some level, Lee acknowledged that the goal is to lower the price so that more people can purchase lifelike dolls.

Response times, both verbal and physical, are a minor concern that might arise. For these sex bots to use AI characteristics, they would require internet access in the absence of a powerful processor. The robot's reactions may be delayed if the connection is erratic or slow.

Although it wouldn't be a deal breaker, it would quickly grow stale.

What about the ethical implications?

The last issue is more moral than technical.

Regarding sex robots, what kinds of norms of conduct exist? The robot could be used by dishonest customers to verbally and physically attack others. Since robots are emotionless, some people might not think this is a problem, but the fact that more and more males would have a way to express their sexual violence is concerning for real women. This may actually enhance aggressive urges rather than lessen them.

Then, there are the moral dilemmas associated with using LLMs or any responsive AI. As stated in the 2023 publication "Research Report on AI Ethics Governance" by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology:

"Decision-making AI may threaten human autonomy and self-perception in some situations. Due to the possibility that user data might be used to train generative AI, large language models also carry the risk of data breaches.

We will soon be able to observe how this unfolds in spite of these moral dilemmas. According to Lee, the initial prototypes should be released by the end of August this year.

Eventually, Starpery hopes to build robots capable of more than just sexual activity. Their goal is to create valuable humanoids that can assist with household tasks, care for older people, and assist people with impairments.

The first of these "smart service robots" is anticipated to be on the market by 2025.