LAS VEGAS – Lovense, the company that perfected the art of the internet-connected sex toy, has decided the next frontier is the human heart—or at least a convincing facsimile of it. At CES 2026, the sex-tech giant unveiled its AI Companion Doll, a lifelike robot designed to combat loneliness, and is already charging a cool $200 just for a spot on the waiting list.
Powered by what Lovense calls an “adaptive AI,” the doll promises to hold conversations, remember past interactions, and display “lifelike facial expressions” via servos in its head. The goal, according to the company, is to provide emotional, mental, and intimate engagement that evolves over time. And, in a move that will surprise absolutely no one, it “integrates effortlessly with the full Lovense ecosystem” of connected devices.
This venture into AI companionship is a bold pivot from teledildonics to teledildonics with a therapy license. The company claims the doll can help users build confidence and better equip them to engage with real people. Of course, whether outsourcing emotional labor to a silicone partner is a genuine solution or merely a high-tech bandage on a gaping societal wound is a matter of debate, as we’ve discussed before when considering if Forget Skynet: The Real Robotic Threat is Coddling Us to Death .
Why is this important?
Lovense’s entry into the AI companion market is a significant indicator of the convergence between the sex-tech industry and the burgeoning AI relationship space, a market projected to grow at a CAGR of over 30%. While companies have been peddling chatbot “girlfriends” for years, integrating a conversational AI with a physical, expressive body and a network of haptic devices represents a new level of immersive technology. It also raises thorny ethical questions about emotional dependency on machines, data privacy in our most intimate moments—especially given Lovense’s past security flaws—and whether these “companions” will ultimately help or hinder genuine human connection.
