Realbotix, a company with origins in the sex doll industry, has announced plans to provide AI-powered educators to the Salamanca City School District in New York. The initiative aims to deploy the company's 'Optio AI' technology, which Realbotix claims can function as a teacher's assistant or an at-home tutor, by integrating it into humanoid robots.
This venture stems from Realbotix's parent company, Abyss Creations, known for its "ultra-realistic" sex dolls under the RealDoll brand. Realbotix itself was formed after the crypto company Tokens.com, which had acquired Simulacra (a sex doll maker), pivoted to focus on "ultra-realistic humanoid robots and companionship-based AI." The company's current focus is on creating AI-driven robotics beyond its initial product lines.
The proposed educational program will see a Realbotix M-Series humanoid robot, reportedly named "Sally," situated in a classroom. The AI integrated into this robot is designed to interact with students through natural conversation and facial expressions, providing support for district curriculum, concept reinforcement, individual tutoring, and homework assistance. An avatar version of the software will also be accessible to students at home.
Salamanca, a city with a median household income of $30,996 and a significant portion of its population living below the poverty line, has agreed to participate in this pilot program. The district has reportedly spent $57,590 on the initiative, with Realbotix CEO Andrew Kiguel stating this is a discounted rate from the standard $95,000.
Critics have raised concerns about the appropriateness and effectiveness of using AI derived from a sex doll company's technology in an educational setting. The company's stated goal is to promote AI, robots, and STEM education, and to "strengthen credibility" for these fields. Realbotix claims the Salamanca deployment is a "flagship deployment" and intends it as a precursor to a wider rollout.
The use of AI in schools is already a subject of debate, and this particular application has drawn particular scrutiny due to the company's history and the potential ethical implications of integrating former adult-product technology into educational environments. The company has been contacted for evidence supporting the efficacy of an LLM-powered doll in teaching STEM subjects to high school students.