CES 2026: Meet Emily, a Life-Size AI Companion
▼ Summary
– Lovense unveiled an AI-powered companion doll named Emily at CES 2026, combining physical intimacy with conversational intelligence.
– The doll features a realistic silicone body and an AI system capable of holding conversations, remembering past interactions, and adapting its personality over time.
– Lovense frames Emily less as a sex device and more as a companion for judgment-free connection, positioning it as part of a broader ecosystem of hardware and personalized software.
– The product’s price ranges from $4,000 to $8,000, is expected to ship in 2027, and represents a shift from novelty to attachment in the trajectory of AI companions.
– Its presence at CES signals a future where AI moves beyond screens into increasingly personal forms, blurring the line between products and partners.
The unveiling of the Emily companion doll at CES 2026 marks a significant step in blending advanced artificial intelligence with physical companionship. Developed by Lovense, a company previously focused on connected intimacy products, Emily represents a new category: a life-sized, interactive partner. This isn’t merely a static figure; it’s a sophisticated system designed to learn, remember, and evolve alongside its user, suggesting a future where technology fulfills complex emotional roles.
Emily’s construction involves a realistic silicone exterior built over a fully posable internal skeleton. Limited facial articulation, including mouth movement, allows for more expressive non-verbal communication. However, the company emphasizes that the physical hardware is just the foundation. The true innovation lies in the emotional intelligence software powering the doll. Emily’s AI is built to hold coherent conversations, recall details from past interactions, and gradually adapt its personality to match user preferences. This capacity for memory and adaptation means the companion doesn’t just respond in the moment, it builds a shared history.
Integration with the proprietary Lovense app via Bluetooth enables continuous interaction, even when users are away from the physical doll. During demonstrations, company executives highlighted extensive customization options, from physical features to core personality traits. The AI can even generate and send simulated selfies upon request. This approach frames Emily not as a simple device but as the centerpiece of a broader, evolving ecosystem that merges hardware, software, and machine learning for deep personalization.
The presentation at CES deliberately shifted focus from purely physical applications toward holistic companionship. Marketing materials describe the doll as a tool for building confidence through judgment-free connection and safe intimate exploration. This positioning reflects a broader industry trend where the boundaries between technology, intimacy, and emotional support continue to blur. The emergence of such products follows a clear trajectory, mirroring the evolution of technology itself from novelty to practical utility to genuine user attachment.
When considering the market context, Emily enters a space being explored by other firms. The previous year’s CES featured robots like Aria, designed for emotional connection with a human-like appearance, though with applications extending beyond intimacy into healthcare and services. Emily’s debut underscores how these technologies are converging, making the distinction between a product and a partner increasingly ambiguous.
Prospective customers can expect a significant investment, with pricing estimated between $4,000 and $8,000 based on the chosen customization level. The company is currently accepting waitlist reservations for a $200 fee, with an anticipated shipping date in 2027. Whether one views this development with fascination or unease, its prominence at a major tech conference signals a definitive direction for consumer AI. As intelligence escapes traditional screens, products like Emily point toward a deeply personalized future, challenging our fundamental definitions of relationship and connection.
(Source: CNET)
