Sex-doll maker tells The New York Times why his forthcoming sex robot won't be as realistic
Matt McMullen creates very realistic, life-size silicon female sex dolls, and he's moving to incorporate robotics to create the world's first interactive, humanoid sex robot. "I think artists have this sort of weird thing where you're just driven to do something, and sometimes you don't really know why," McMullen tells The New York Times in a short, slightly disturbing video about his quest. "The hope is to create something that will actually arouse someone on an emotional, intellectual level, beyond the physical."
McMullen said the physical programming isn't all that hard, comparing it to the video game Guitar Hero. But while his inanimate sex dolls are as realistic as possible, he doesn't want to go there with his sex robots. "A moving doll is different from a, you know, detailed-to-the-finest-skin-pore copy of a person — and then making it move, for me, is a little off-putting," he said, bringing up "the uncanny valley," the theory that humanoid robots that are too realistic freak people out. "If you keep it far enough away from super-realism, I think you're in safer territory."
But then McMullen veered off in a decidedly not-safe direction: "I want people to develop an emotional attachment not only to the doll, the robot, but the actual character behind it — to develop some sort of love for this being."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Times prefaces the video with a note that it "contains sexual themes," and that's true. But be warned, it also has lots of naked sex dolls and a sort of grotesque segment where a woman's robotic head sticks out her tongue repeatedly. In other words, the video is likely NSFW, but it's an interesting look at something that's coming soon, whether it makes us squirm or not. Peter Weber
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The magician who secretly smashed the Magic Circle's glass ceiling
Under The Radar Sophie Lloyd lurked in the all-male society by posing as a teenage boy for nearly two years, but was expelled after revealing her true identity
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Kate Summerscale's 6 favorite true crime books about real murder cases
Feature The best-selling author recommends works by Helen Garner, Gwen Adshead, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Team of bitter rivals
Opinion Will internal tensions tear apart Trump's unlikely alliance?
By Theunis Bates Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published