Throughout history, human imagination has long grappled with the idea of lifelike companions. From mythic automata in ancient tales to early mechanical toys, the desire to blend technology with emotion has persisted. In recent decades, advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, and materials science have converged to give rise to modern AI-driven companions designed for intimate connection. Cultural conversations around these devices reveal a spectrum of attitudes: some see them as tools that can supplement loneliness, explore fantasies, or provide companionship without human vulnerability; others view them through ethical lenses that emphasize consent, personhood, and the societal impact of artificial intimacy. Anthropological studies of related technologies—virtual assistants, social robots, and immersive simulations—highlight how people project agency, mood, and personality onto nonhuman beings. The result is a evolving cultural script where a doll or robot is not merely a product but a narrative partner, capable of reflecting user desires, confronting loneliness, or challenging assumptions about intimacy.

As societies negotiate the boundaries between human connection and synthetic interaction, designers and researchers increasingly consider the rituals, rituals, and rituals that accompany ownership. Questions arise about how to honor autonomy, ensure respectful interactions, and acknowledge the emotional work users invest in these devices. The cultural history of AI sex dolls is thus a window into broader conversations about intimacy, technology, ethics, and the evolving meaning of companionship in a digital era.