I want you, baby doll

[Stavros]

This report gave me a laugh this morning, though I am not going to knock the man's choices. Just as I am puzzled by the AI stuff -the amount of outstanding quality real stuff must surely make AI pointless- I don't understand sex dolls, and for that matter have zero interest in sex toys.

That aside, what do people think of sex dolls? I just don't get it.

Funeral worker accused of breaking into dead man’s home to smuggle out a life-size sex doll in a body bag (yahoo.com) (https://uk.news.yahoo.com/funeral-worker-accused-breaking-dead-192520552.html)

[rodinuk]

It’s a solution for some people and for others it may even be a fetish I guess? I wonder if you’re thinking too much of the old blow-up dolls? the terminology isn’t helpful either. Modern dolls are realistic and cost well over £1000+ and allow customisation to suit many tastes

They’re now developing the dolls to use AI for speech interaction with their owner/partner. I think it’s an interesting development - so for example a widowed person later in life might gain comfort/pleasure from having their own companion without the requirement to date/interact with humans and all their vagaries etc. or the owner may find it difficult to find a partner in real life so for them it’s a chance to have the ‘look and feel’ of a real partner.

I think you’re underestimating the raw appetite of the human being for sexual material and AI is just another branch of discovery allowing customisation of imagery and narrative.

[filghy2]

Just as I am puzzled by the AI stuff -the amount of outstanding quality real stuff must surely make AI pointless- I don't understand sex dolls, and for that matter have zero interest in sex toys.

I think you are missing the key point, which is that AI will eventually allow people to have sexual encounters without the complications and imperfections of dealing with real people. The technology is not there yet, but at some point I'm sure it will be possible to have seemingly realistic sex with artificial people. It won't be for everyone, because sexual attraction is mostly in the mind, but I'm sure it will appeal to many.

Of course, technology also has it's risks. Man has evolved to be a social animal, and I'm not sure it's going to be good for the human character if we can just pay to bypass the complications and compromises involved in human interactions. For instance, how many people will bother with real relationships if they can have a perfect virtual partner who always does what you want? Anyone who has no concerns about the implications of AI being able to replace most human functions is a technological utopian who hasn't thought too deeply.

[Stavros]

Two well argued and perfectly reasonable posts in reply to my OP. The irony being that at my age AI or the latest generation of dolls may be my last remaining hope as I crawl toward the Great Silence. Or I might be dead before they are less temperamental and unreliable than someone I know (ouch!).

Lots to look forward to for the younger generation, as long as it is not like that creepy thing in Spielberg's desperate film.