At CES 2026, the company Lovense, known for its intimate gadgets, unveiled a new product — a companion robot named Emily.
Emily is a synthesis of a realistic silicone body, an articulated skeleton, and, most importantly, a sophisticated artificial intelligence system. The developers claim that their AI is capable not only of delivering pre-scripted responses, but also of emotional feedback, remembering details of conversations, and gradually adapting to the owner’s personality. The doll can hold conversations, and its face reproduces facial expressions, blinking, and lip movements.
The skin is made of medical-grade TPE silicone with a heat-conducting gel filling, whose temperature is maintained at 36.6°C through a system of Peltier thermoelements.
The most technically complex subsystem is facial animation. Inside the skull are 42 HiTec micro-servo actuators with a pulling force of up to 3.2 kg/cm², connected by elastic synthetic “muscles.” They control 18 articulation points, allowing the formation of basic micro-expressions such as a slight smile, brow furrowing, and winking. The eyes are equipped with Sony IMX586 stereo cameras with an infrared filter for object recognition and gaze tracking.
In addition to the cameras, the robot features an array of Tekscan tactile sensors on the torso and limbs that detect the strength and nature of touch. For spatial navigation, a Livox Mid-360 LiDAR operating at 20 Hz is used, enabling obstacle avoidance indoors. The built-in battery with a capacity of 12,000 mAh provides up to eight hours of autonomous operation, and the wireless charging system supports the Qi 2.0 standard.
Public reaction at the exhibition was mixed, ranging from lively interest to skeptical questions about the depth of such an artificial connection. The developers, however, are confident that Emily will become a safe space for communication without judgment and help users build self-confidence.
However, the humanoid comes with a high price tag — from $4,000 to $8,000. The first deliveries are scheduled for 2027, but for $200 one can already secure a place on the waiting list.