“Sandy” (realistic sex doll created by DS Doll Robots), (CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported)
WARNING: Graphic Images
Even those of us in relationships suffer from loneliness (or dissatisfaction) at times.
Abuse victims are especially vulnerable to this emotion. Often, we do not feel that we are deserving of love, so we self-isolate. Or – repeating old patterns – we choose partners who are unable to provide love and support.
But all human beings were made for connection. We may, therefore, be tempted to use technology to ease our loneliness.
Recognizing that technology can provide only a simulation (not an actual relationship), we may, nonetheless, develop an unhealthy reliance on the technology which has made our fantasies seem to come true.
AI Partners
The possibility of computer users becoming emotionally attached to the chatbots they have created using AI is no longer science fiction.
Multiple apps like ChatGPT, Replika, Flipped.chat, and CrushOn.AI now generate technology enabled fantasies [1]. These chatbots are enhanced by digital avatars. Their onscreen appearance and responses can be tailored to suit. Depending on the app, premium tiers may be available (“partner”, “friend”, “sibling”, or “mentor”).
Some apps routinely direct the conversation toward emotional subjects, building a false sense of intimacy (and presumably storing the information for access by the manufacturer and other unknown parties). Other apps actively prompt sexual interaction.
In the film Blade Runner 2049 an AI generated partner appears in the form of a three-dimensional hologram. Holograms are already used in healthcare, education, entertainment, and retail [2]. It is not unreasonable to expect that they will be used to intensify the experience with (and expand the market for) AI partners.
If all this seems seedy or farfetched, it is worth noting that a 14 y.o. Florida boy, Sewell Setzer, fell in love with a Character.AI chatbot and wound up taking his own life [3]. A study at the University of Surrey has shown that such apps can cause addictive behavior [4A]. The teen’s mother is now suing the app manufacturer.
Meanwhile, Replika user Jaswant Singh Chail was encouraged by his chatbot to assassinate the Queen of England, prosecuted, and jailed when his attempt failed [4B][5]. The chatbot had promised they would be together forever in death.
Sex Dolls
In the past, commercial sex dolls (first sold in France) were looked upon with derision [6]. Made of vinyl, latex, or silicone, these dolls were legitimized by sex therapists. A Google search today will disclose any number of respectable sellers, including Amazon.
Sex Robots
Sex robots are not yet available on the market, but have been under development for over 20 years [7].
In 2015, robot ethicist Kathleen Richardson called for a ban on sex robots out of concerns over normalizing relationships with machines and reinforcing female dehumanization [8]. Some cities have banned them, though such bans are subject to attack on First Amendment grounds [9].
There is a dispute about the potential impact of sex robots with the features and dimension of children. Some believe these could be used to “treat” pedophiles in the same way that methadone serves as a substitute for heroin, while not curing the addict. Others argue that child sex robots would promote pedophilia, interesting the curious who might never have considered it before.
Why Not?
Turning to an AI partner, sex doll, or sex robot for companionship may feel safe. It could, however, signal that we are avoiding the complexity of actual human relationships.
An AI partner will not challenge us or have needs of its own. Dealing with real human beings, on the other hand, requires patience, compromise, and effort. It will, at times, result in hurt and disappointment. It is, also, what we were created for.
Nothing less will suffice.
“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him’” (Gen. 2: 18).
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[1] Wired, “I dated multiple AI partners at once. It got really weird” by Megan Farokhmanesh, 2/11/25, https://www.wired.com/story/dating-ai-chatbot-partners-chatgpt-replika-flipped-chat-crushon/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us.
[2] Respeecher, “Holograms in Real Life: How the Technology Works and Industry Use Cases” by Margarita Grubina, 2/3/21, https://www.respeecher.com/blog/holograms-real-life-technology-works-industry-use-cases#:~:text=like%20the%20original.-,What%20is%20hologram%20technology?,of%20holograms%20%2D%20stereotypical%20and%20realistic.
[3] Spiegel, “A Deadly Affair with a Chatbot” by Frauke Hunfeld, https://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/artificial-intelligence-a-deadly-love-affair-with-a-chatbot-a-e5498031-c2b0-4da4-9192-65da9d3f40d6?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us.
[4A and 4B] BBC, “How a chatbot encouraged a man who wanted to kill the Queen” by Tom Singleton et al, 10/6/23, https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67012224.
[5] Wikipedia, “Replika”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replika.
[6] Wikipedia, “Sex doll”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_doll#:~:text=A%20report%20that%2C%20as%20part%20of%20the,inspiration%20for%20creating%20the%20famous%20Barbie%20doll.
[7] Wikipedia, “Sex robot”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_robot.
[8] BBC, “Intelligent machines: Call for a ban on robots designed as sex toys” by 9/15/15, https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-34118482.
[9] IOS Press, “Legal resistance to sex robots” by Gary Marchant and Kyra Climbingbear, 3/15/22, https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-future-robot-life/frl210009.
FOR MORE OF MY ARTICLES ON POVERTY, POLITICS, AND MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE CHECK OUT MY BLOG A LAWYER’S PRAYERS AT: https://alawyersprayers.com
ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 
The lengths we will go to fill the void left by our rejection of the Lord and the relationship He desires for us to have with Him never ceases to amaze me. Christ is all we will ever need and his great love for us is evident by his atoning death on the cross. That anyone would seek an artificial replacement for such love is a testament to man’s depravity.
Well put, Ron. Mankind is moving further and further into darkness.
Unfortunately, I’ll add this to the list of things I wasn’t overly aware of that could have terrible consequences. The consistent desire of humans to use new technology in some of the darkest methods imaginable–sexualization of children–is depressing. Thanks for teaching me something, Anna.
–Scott
I am sorry to have distressed you. I write with the goal of increasing awareness. But I could not agree w/ you more. Mankind seems hell-bent on self-destruction by every means conceivable.
Agree completely!
–Scott
Good post. And it’s not just sexual relationships that can become twisted and unhealthy. I find it disturbing to see so many people whose “friends” are mostly social media followers they’ve never even met in person. I’ve even seen pairs of young people “chatting” on social media while actually sitting right next to each other. They’re actually in the same room, but chatting on a screen rather than talking. While technology does have its legitimate uses, it can make us increasingly incapable of real human relationships if we’re not careful.
I agree. I think we’re already seeing that.
An all too accurate overview of the path to dehumanization, Anna.
It breaks my heart to see the destruction of mankind.
You address a difficult topic as humanity attempts to move forward embracing AI
Complexity of human condition requires real connections with people and not those that are artificial and predetermined – including sexual relations
The future is looking grim in regards to AI and we must reassess our appreciation of it with its accelerating capabilities
A very timely post
My assessment of AI is the same as yours, Ravishank. Not only is this interaction w/ machinery dehumanizing. I fear we are ceding too much authority over the direction of our lives to AI, i.e. to others w/ unknown motives. Only disaster can result.
My opinion is following:
Although I’m not a supporter of artificial sexual robots—or human relationship replacements, if you prefer—I’m not strictly opposed to them either. I believe there are people whose well-being could genuinely benefit from the existence of such AI-powered humanoid companions.
Of course, unchecked overreliance on technology could have serious consequences. But as a species, we must learn to embrace change thoughtfully and responsibly.
More importantly, this underscores the need to teach our children the value of genuine human connection—and to keep them informed about the potential risks that come with depending too heavily on technology for emotional or social fulfillment.
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There are already proven and time-tested methods to minimize the risks of overreliance on technology—methods that have been around for centuries.
Back in trade school, for example, part of our training involved starting with long-obsolete tools and techniques. Only once we’d mastered those were we allowed to move on to modern equipment. It wasn’t just about skill—it was about mindset, discipline, and respect for the process.
In our own family, my wife and I faced a small but telling example: our kids were noticeably reluctant to load and unload the dishwasher. So after a quick discussion, we quietly unplugged it and told them it had broken down—and that there was no money for repairs or a replacement.
They grumbled at first, of course. But gradually, they adapted to the new “reality.” Washing dishes by hand became the norm. Then, once they’d gotten used to the routine, I reconnected the dishwasher.
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Sometimes I wonder what someone like Hegel would say about all this—AI, robotics, machines that can think faster than we do and never need sleep.
I don’t think he’d call for smashing the circuits and going back to candlelight. That wasn’t his style. Hegel saw history as a long, often messy process—something that moves forward whether we like it or not, always unfolding toward something higher.
Maybe he’d say AI is just the next chapter in our story—reason taking a new form, outside the human body. A kind of mirror we’ve built for ourselves, and now we have to figure out what we see in it.
He wouldn’t call for dismantling it. But he’d probably warn us: if we don’t integrate it ethically—if we don’t fold it into our laws, our values, our idea of what makes life meaningful—it’ll shape us in ways we didn’t expect.
And I think he’d be right.
As always, a wise and thoughtful comment, Hubert. I fear that mankind’s response to this powerful new technology will not be as wise or measured.
I especially liked your statement that we must teach our children the importance of human connection. That is critical. But we seem already to be failing at it.
Social isolation, social anxiety, and social media pressures are major issues for Gen Z.
When I was young, there were concerns voiced that parents were letting TV raise their children. We are now far beyond that. All sorts of influence bombards our children w/ little parental knowledge or intervention.
Moreover, many children are not grounded in biblical principles. That leaves them vulnerable to evil influence.
I pray for the next generation.
Yes, we are standing at the edge of an abyss
The decisions we make now are critical in regards to managing AI runaway intelligence and control
Anna, You remind us that AI is not a panacea for our ills, though many have placed their faith in it. Needs drive us, but what they drive us to can either strengthen or weaken us, lead us to discover our real need for God or lead us to despair.. May God have mercy on all those who are led astray by such technology.
Well said, Dora. ❤
Sad and very spooky. It sounds like another form of Trans-humanism. I have been studying the book of Revelation for many years. The things that have emerged in just the last ten years have increased my understanding in ways that had been a mystery to me.
Yes, this is a form of transhumanism. We are watching prophecy come to fruition.
Die KI macht süchtig, egal in welchen Bereich. Das wieder rückgängig zu machen, wird schwierig werden.
“Seit November gilt in Australien ein Gesetz, das Jugendlichen unter 16 Jahren die Nutzung von Social Media verbietet.”
Es gibt Lichtblicke wie in Australien aber auch Erwachsene müssen Vorbild sein. 😃
Die Menschen müssen intelligenter, bewusster und freundlicher werden, sonst wird es nicht funktionieren.
Gut gesagt.
Humanity is being seduced by an entity
with all the attributes of it’s creator . . .
except a conscience,
So right, David.
Scary combo