AEE

Roxxxy the robot is not about sex, except when she is

True Companion unveils “the world’s first sex robot” at AEE

Image
True Companion’s first sex robot, Roxxxy at the 2010 Adult Entertainment Expo.
Photo: April Corbin

Pay no attention to the suggestive triple Xs in her name or her classification as a high-end sex toy. Roxxxy, the self-described world’s first sex robot, is not about sex.

True Companions: Roxxxy the robot and her creator Douglas Hines.

She’s about artificial intelligence and preserving the unique but finite personality of an individual in the potentially infinite realm of technology. At least, this is what creator, Douglas Hines, stresses Saturday during a press conference at the Adult Entertainment Expo while he talks about the Roxxxy’s inspiration: a friend who died during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Hines said he wanted his friend’s children to grow up and still be able to interact with their father. The former Bell Technologies engineer began thinking more seriously about artificial intelligence and its implications in today’s society.

However, with the non-sexual robot companion market being pretty slim, Hines’ concept was changed in order to capitalize on the adult entertainment industry.

Hello, Roxxxy!

If she were human, Roxxxy might be described as having split personality disorder. The robot has five distinct but customizable personalities — Frigid Farrah, Wild Wendy, S&M Susan, Young (barely 18, the press release clarifies) and Mature Martha — as well as the capacity for the owner to create unique personalities.

Roxxxy will react differently to physical interaction based on the personality selected. If you take Farrah’s hand, she will tell you she enjoys holding it. If you take Wendy’s hand, she’ll tell you she has a place for you to put it.

Unique personalities will be “swappable” by True Companion owners, who will have to subscribe to a monthly service. It’s basically wife swapping without the “extra implications,” Hines explained.

Remember, however, that it isn’t all about sex. (If you’re curious, though, the doll has three “input centers.”)

“Sex only goes so far, then, you have to talk to the person,” Hines said. “We’re more interested in creating companions.”

Roxxxy should be able to learn her owner’s likes and dislikes, as should her male counterpart Rocky (being marketed toward gay males). This may make True Companion’s robots the likeliest contenders to achieve sentience like Skynet in Terminator. Or it could lead to a reduced need for girlfriends and boyfriends.

Only time — and men willing to pay a price point of $7,000 and up — will tell.

Share

Previous Discussion:

Top of Story