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Last month, Hong Kong designer Ricky Ma created a life-size robot that looks exactly like actress Scarlett Johansson. And we mean, exactly.
The female bot took a year-and-a-half to make with a 3D printer and cost more than $50,000, according to Reuters. The result? Robo ScarJo can make simple arm, leg and facial movements, wink and bow.
When you compliment it (her?) by saying “you are so beautiful,” the robot’s mouth rises to a slight smile and her eyebrows relax as though she’s embarrassed by the compliment.
Do you feel uncomfortable yet? The scary reality of Ma’s creation is that it’s only the beginning.
If a Chinese designer can make a life-like replica of a Hollywood actress, who’s to say your ex-boyfriend can’t make one of you. Worse yet, who’s to say what he’ll do with it. *Shudders*
The sex tech industry is estimated to be worth $30 billion and you can already buy a life-like doll from California for around $8600, choosing from 18 different female body types – and two male.
This year, the same Californian company revealed a sex doll prototype called Harmony that can hold a conversation about music, movies and books, crack jokes and remember your birthday, favourtie food and the names of your siblings. That’s not to mention Harmony’s main purpose: she will have sex with you whenever you want.
Of course there are also male sex dolls (albeit less advanced), but Law professor Margot Kaminski believes there’s a gendered component to the robotic future. “Siri’s a woman, Cortana’s a woman; if a robot exists to perform labour or personal assistances, there’s a darn good chance they’ll be a woman” she said to Wired.
As robotic technology advances, women may be objectified in a brand new way.
