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Amid Beijing's push to turn the country into an artificial intelligence (AI) powerhouse and embed the technology in all facets of life, some Chinese entrepreneurs are taking the expertise to a new frontier: s*x dolls. WMDOLL, one of China's biggest s*x doll makers, which is based in the southeastern province of Guangdong, launched what it calls AI-powered dolls at end of 2016 that offer features ranging from simple conversation to moving eyes, arms and torsos. Customers can personalise their dolls by choosing various appearance options including height, hairstyle and eye colour. Here: Parts of s*x dolls are seen on operating platforms waiting to be checked at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

Amid Beijing's push to turn the country into an artificial intelligence (AI) powerhouse and embed the technology in all facets of life, some Chinese entrepreneurs are taking the expertise to a new frontier: s*x dolls. WMDOLL, one of China's biggest s*x doll makers, which is based in the southeastern province of Guangdong, launched what it calls AI-powered dolls at end of 2016 that offer features ranging from simple conversation to moving eyes, arms and torsos. Customers can personalise their dolls by choosing various appearance options including height, hairstyle and eye colour. Here: Parts of s*x dolls are seen on operating platforms waiting to be checked at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)



A variety of moulds for different body shapes lie on the floor of the workshop during a lunch break at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 12, 2018. All dolls at the factory are handmade and each requires the cooperation of at least five workers. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

A variety of moulds for different body shapes lie on the floor of the workshop during a lunch break at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 12, 2018. All dolls at the factory are handmade and each requires the cooperation of at least five workers. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)



A worker takes a photo of a s*x doll at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. Online customers can choose different doll styles according to pictures. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

A worker takes a photo of a s*x doll at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. Online customers can choose different doll styles according to pictures. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)



Metal skeletons for s*x dolls are displayed at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

Metal skeletons for s*x dolls are displayed at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)



s*x doll heads are seen at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 12, 2018. The company hopes the AI dolls will eventually take off with overseas customers, including those in the United States – exports account for 80 percent of their sales, and half of their overseas shipments go to the United States. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

s*x doll heads are seen at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 12, 2018. The company hopes the AI dolls will eventually take off with overseas customers, including those in the United States – exports account for 80 percent of their sales, and half of their overseas shipments go to the United States. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)



Employees work at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 12, 2018. The doll draws on vocabulary from a database supported by the Chinese firm Baidu. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

Employees work at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 12, 2018. The doll draws on vocabulary from a database supported by the Chinese firm Baidu. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)



Various styles and designs of s*x dolls are displayed at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. The exports account for 80 percent of WMDOLL sales, and half of their overseas shipments go to the United States. Dolls with tanned skin colour are the most popular in overseas markets. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

Various styles and designs of s*x dolls are displayed at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. The exports account for 80 percent of WMDOLL sales, and half of their overseas shipments go to the United States. Dolls with tanned skin colour are the most popular in overseas markets. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)



Employees work at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 12, 2018. The factory has over 200 full-time workers, all dolls are handmade and each requires the cooperation of at least five workers. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

Employees work at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 12, 2018. The factory has over 200 full-time workers, all dolls are handmade and each requires the cooperation of at least five workers. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)



Wigs displayed on a shelf at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

Wigs displayed on a shelf at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)



A worker assembles a s*x doll at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. All dolls at the factory are handmade and each requires the cooperation of at least five workers. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

A worker assembles a s*x doll at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. All dolls at the factory are handmade and each requires the cooperation of at least five workers. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)



Workers have lunch among s*x dolls at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 12, 2018. The factory has over 200 full-time workers, all dolls are handmade and each requires the cooperation of over five workers. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

Workers have lunch among s*x dolls at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 12, 2018. The factory has over 200 full-time workers, all dolls are handmade and each requires the cooperation of over five workers. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)



Various doll heads covered with dust bags are seen on shelves at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

Various doll heads covered with dust bags are seen on shelves at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)



A male s*x doll hangs in the warehouse at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 12, 2018. About one percent of the products at the factory are male dolls, and are mostly bought by male consumers. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

A male s*x doll hangs in the warehouse at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 12, 2018. About one percent of the products at the factory are male dolls, and are mostly bought by male consumers. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)



A worker prepares a s*x doll for a photo shoot at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. Online customers can choose different doll styles according to pictures. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

A worker prepares a s*x doll for a photo shoot at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. Online customers can choose different doll styles according to pictures. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)



s*x doll heads are seen in boxes about to be sealed and shipped off to customers at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. The factory produces around 2,000 dolls a month, including dozens of different shapes of body and over 260 different faces. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

s*x doll heads are seen in boxes about to be sealed and shipped off to customers at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. The factory produces around 2,000 dolls a month, including dozens of different shapes of body and over 260 different faces. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)



Three s*x dolls, all called Lucy, have their moving parts controlled by remote control at the WMDOLL factory's display room in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

Three s*x dolls, all called Lucy, have their moving parts controlled by remote control at the WMDOLL factory's display room in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)



The head of a s*x doll mould is seen on an operating platform at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

The head of a s*x doll mould is seen on an operating platform at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)



A worker holds a doll's head to cool it down in front of a fan at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

A worker holds a doll's head to cool it down in front of a fan at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)



A s*x doll hangs in the warehouse at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 12, 2018. The factory produces around 2,000 dolls a month, including dozens of different shapes of body and over 260 different faces. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

A s*x doll hangs in the warehouse at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 12, 2018. The factory produces around 2,000 dolls a month, including dozens of different shapes of body and over 260 different faces. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)



A worker assembles a s*x doll at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. The factory has over 200 full-time workers, all dolls are handmade and each requires the cooperation of at least five workers. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

A worker assembles a s*x doll at the WMDOLL factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, July 11, 2018. The factory has over 200 full-time workers, all dolls are handmade and each requires the cooperation of at least five workers. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)
31 Jul 2018 00:03:00