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The Hustle Daily Show

Shared GF: The rental sex doll that irked the Chinese government

Jan 2, 2025
A Chinese company introduced a rental service for sex dolls, aiming to make companionship more affordable. However, societal challenges and government pushback derailed the venture. The discussion dives into the future of AI companionship and how it might evolve alongside sex dolls, amid cultural influences and restrictions. Ethical implications of using AI in erotic content creation are also explored, referencing popular culture like 'Black Mirror' to illustrate the technology's integration into society.
11:17

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Taku's rental girlfriend doll service aimed to provide affordable companionship but faced government backlash over perceived vulgarity, leading to its closure.
  • The podcast highlights the shift towards AI companions as an evolving alternative to physical dolls, raising ethical questions about their societal impact.

Deep dives

Innovative Yet Controversial: Taku's Shared Girlfriend Service

Taku launched a rental girlfriend service featuring silicone sex dolls, aiming to make companionship more accessible by offering rental options for those who could not afford to purchase a high-quality doll. For a daily fee of $46, users could rent one of five different models, including a doll resembling an iconic character. However, the service faced an unexpected closure due to backlash from the Chinese government, which deemed the product vulgar and imposed fines on the company, preventing any rentals from taking place. Despite this setback, Taku remains committed to advocating for open discussions about sex and sexuality, indicating their intention to explore future avenues for normalizing such topics.

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