With increasingly realistic features and even AI capabilities, sex dolls have come a long way from the blow-up novelties of yore. But will improved technology translate into a more enriching experience for users? We explore the implications of advanced humanoid sex partners.
Sex dolls have come a long way. From the early days of rudimentary inflatables that primarily served as gag gifts (no pun intended) to the latest wave of robotic dolls with AI capabilities, there is clearly an ongoing demand for humanoid pleasure products. But while sex toys in general have been normalized within pop culture, sex dolls differ in that they are surrogate physical partners.
Companies such as the Hong Kong-based RosemaryDoll offer fairly realistic sex dolls to suit the needs of the lonely and the horny. Their stock includes customizable dolls of all body types, ethnicities (including anime-style), ages and genders. They also have options for different hairstyles and clothing. Additionally, they sell robotic dolls that respond to touch, generate artificial body heat, and speak and learn through AI faculties.
While the robotic and AI aspects of these dolls are merely in their infancy, it is worth considering the current state of the various social and psychological implications of having sex with human effigies. In order to get a deeper perspective, HUSTLERMagazine.com reached out to Lisa Lawless, Ph.D., the CEO of HolisticWisdom.com, a site that provides extensive information about safe practices regarding sexual activities and products.
HUSTLERMagazine.com: To what extent is there a difference, psychologically, between masturbation with one’s hand or with a vibrator (or some similarly non-humanoid device) and having sex with a humanoid pleasure product?
Dr. Lisa Lawless: Masturbation by hand (manually) or with sex toys is typically more of a physical act combined with a mental fantasy where users are more conscious that they are pleasuring themselves.
Using a humanoid pleasure product provides increased visual stimulation as well as tactile sensations, as there is an enhanced degree of feeling, as though one is with a partner. This can create a deeper sense of psychological immersion than with manual or sex toy masturbation.
