Emily at CES Signals the Next Phase of Human-AI Relationships, and It's Intimate
The life-size sex robot is AI-powered and ready for intimacy.
The life-size sex robot is AI-powered and ready for intimacy.
Nasha Addarich Martínez Managing Editor
Nasha is a Managing Editor for CNET, overseeing our sleep and wellness verticals. She is a nutrition, mental health, fitness and sleep science enthusiast. Her passion for mindful and holistic practices transcends her personal life and profoundly influences her editorial approach, as she weaves evidence-based insights with practical advice to inspire readers to lead healthier, more balanced lives. Throughout her career, she's covered various topics including financial services, technology, travel and wellness.
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3 min read
Lovense debuted at CES 2026 with a product that is hard to ignore. The brand, known for its app-connected sex toys, unveiled an AI-powered companion doll that combines physical intimacy with conversational intelligence.
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The life-size doll, called Emily, features a realistic silicone exterior, a fully posable internal skeleton, and limited facial movement, including mouth motion, for a more expressive interaction.
But Lovense says that the doll's hardware is only half the story. The real pitch is the emotional software. What makes Emily different isn't only what "she" can do, but what the AI system can remember.
The doll is capable of holding conversations, remembering past interactions and adapting its personality to your liking over time. That means Emily doesn't just respond, she accumulates.
Watch this: I Met My First Sex Robot at CES
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Emily connects to the Lovense app via Bluetooth, which allows users to interact with the AI even when they're not physically with the doll. CNET's senior producer, Jesse Orrall, who had the opportunity to speak to Lovense executives, said that Emily's physical features and personality are customizable, and that it can send AI-generated selfies on request. (Orrall was unable to test Emily's chat features on site.)
The next phase of human-AI relationships
Perhaps Lovense isn't selling a doll so much as a roadmap for a long-term relationship. During CES demos, the company framed the product less as a sex device and more as a form of companionship. The company's website says Emily can help you build confidence through judgment-free connection and safe, intimate expression through exploration.
Lovense is positioning this sex robot as part of a broader ecosystem, rather than a standalone device, signaling a shift toward platforms that combine hardware, software and long-term personalization through machine learning.
At CES 2025, we saw a humanoid robot called Aria, another soft-skin companion robot designed for a human-like appearance and emotional connection, but far more technologically complex. Its company, Realbotix, now has several more customizable robots aimed at different use cases outside of sex tech, like media, health care and corporate services.
How did CNET Senior Producer Jesse Orrall get to meet all the sex robots at CES? CNET
One year later, at CES 2026, the Lovense companion doll demonstrates how the trajectory of sex robots mirrors the trajectory of the technology itself -- from novelty to utility to attachment. And as AI companions grow more prevalent, the line between product and partners becomes harder to define.
Lovense 'Emily' companion doll pricing and availability
According to the company, the doll will cost between $4,000 and $8,000, depending on the level of customization, and is expected to ship in 2027. You can now join the waitlist on the website with a reservation fee of $200.
Whether the idea of an AI companion doll feels fascinating, uncanny or somewhere in between, its presence at CES says a lot about where things are headed.
As artificial intelligence moves beyond screens and speakers, products like Emily hint at a future where AI sex robots are no longer just programmable, but increasingly personal. Let's just hope Emily doesn't turn out like Ava in Ex Machina.