Video: The obligatory “Creepy guy invents boring fembot” post
posted at 2:35 pm on December 10, 2008 by Allahpundit
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
I can’t tell you what a confidence booster it is to have e-mail tips about this flooding in with the subject heading, “Something for AP.”
Just kidding, not all of them said that. One of them said, “Headlines: Blogger now unafraid of loneliness.” I laugh through the tears.
“Fem-bot” Aiko, who has cost £14,000 to build so far, is a whizz at maths and even does Le’s accounts…
He said he did not build Aiko as a sexual partner, but said she could be tweaked to become one…
The former software programmer has taken out credit cards and loans, sold his car and spent his life savings on perfecting the machine…
The odd looking pair go out for drives together in the Canadian countryside, before sitting down at the dinner table, but Aiko never eats anything…
[T]he stress of working on such a difficult project became too much for Le and he suffered a mild heart attack in November last year…
“I may need to have Aiko look after me one day.
“She doesn’t need holidays, food or rest and she will work almost 24-hours a day. She is the perfect woman,” he said.
As if to drive home the point about her supposed sex appeal, the video at the link shows Le interacting with … her severed head. She looks to me like one of those crudely mechanized mannequins in the Macy’s window with a speaker thrown in (how sophisticated a robot can you build for $30,000?), but judge for yourself: Two clips here, the second via Breitbart, of Aiko showing what she can do, i.e. not much. Think of her as the Sputnik of fembots. Remember how impressive Sputnik was? No? Exit question: Why would a guy with 30 grand who’s desperate for a companion spend it on a robot? Hasn’t he heard? Click the top image to watch.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages:
A robot woman companion, feedback from internet blogging … what’s the difference?
Paul-Cincy on December 10, 2008 at 2:38 PM
I’d tap that.
Alden Pyle on December 10, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Hey now! Hey now!
Aiko Aiko!
Good Lt on December 10, 2008 at 2:39 PM
I liked my subject header: Beta Dreams
Lance Murdock on December 10, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Maybe he’s just that unbearable to be with.
What a horrible robot.
amerpundit on December 10, 2008 at 2:42 PM
AP, some guys will get no girls, no matter how much money they have or spend. Creepy guy probably qualifies.
Vashta.Nerada on December 10, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Does she own a liquor store too?
BacaDog on December 10, 2008 at 2:46 PM
Hey AP, wasn’t it “Call in Gay Day” today?
: )
catmman on December 10, 2008 at 2:46 PM
Why would a guy with 30 grand who’s desperate for a companion spend it on a robot?
Obviously you are not married or have a serious girlfriend.
I envy the on/off switch of his companion.
Bishop on December 10, 2008 at 2:46 PM
I, for one, welcome our new femebot overlords.
Ars Moriendi on December 10, 2008 at 2:47 PM
I kid, because I love.
Kid from Brooklyn on December 10, 2008 at 2:48 PM
There is something honorably empty and hollow about this.
Like watching an episode of the “Outer Limits.”
Count to 10 on December 10, 2008 at 2:49 PM
Umm, I think this is just creepy guy’s excuse for buying all that women’s clothing.
innominatus on December 10, 2008 at 2:51 PM
This was better than the alternative of watching TIVO’d episodes of Lazy Town with his neice’s bumble ball on his lap.
Alden Pyle on December 10, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Headlines: Blogger eagerly awaiting Google buyout of HA (now more than evah!)
Kid from Brooklyn on December 10, 2008 at 2:55 PM
Looks like the Lucy Liu Bot from Futurama!
Schwing!
redshirt on December 10, 2008 at 2:55 PM
Well, that robotic arm only needs to do a couple of simple, repetitive moves….
Riiiiiiight.
Kafir on December 10, 2008 at 2:55 PM
Hahaha, we really got you figured out, huh AP?
Baphomet on December 10, 2008 at 2:57 PM
As far as fembots go I would prefer “Cameron” from the Terminator series
goat on December 10, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Another guy that can’t do hands.
Are there any artists left?
TexasDan on December 10, 2008 at 2:57 PM
She may not look like much now, but this is a promising start. I’m sure the robot girlfriends of the year 2030 will be sexier and more affordable.
Enrique on December 10, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Clearly, this guy has moved beyond hands.
Kid from Brooklyn on December 10, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Now if someone could invent a remote control for a real woman… that would be progress.
http://www.jibjab.com/view/54001
lexhamfox on December 10, 2008 at 3:01 PM
Aiko will slap anyone who touches her in an inappropriate place. No wonder AP disappointed. That’s not a feature, its a bug.
Ars Moriendi on December 10, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Damn…even the robot is high maintenace.
“Stop touching me, Ouch, why did you do that”
Wow, she really is real life.
RobCon on December 10, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Frank Zappa was onto this trend 20 years ago. Miss Pinky, anybody?
Alex_SF on December 10, 2008 at 3:05 PM
1.Guarantee you win every argument
2.No fight for the remote or TIVO controller
3.You don’t have to hear about her friend news
4.Your friends will be jealous
5.As the guys says, she cleans 24/7
6.No inlaws
7.Get’s uppity you can shut her voice control center off
8.Won’t steal covers (my wife of 27 years added that one)
FireBlogger on December 10, 2008 at 3:06 PM
My vote is for Priss, from Blade Runner, or any ‘Bot played by Raquel.
BobMbx on December 10, 2008 at 3:07 PM
See, even a mechanical woman made him have a heart attack. There is a lesson here, guys.
grdred944 on December 10, 2008 at 3:08 PM
…so, does that mean he’s tried and it didn’t work out?
windbag on December 10, 2008 at 3:09 PM
69 95, boy, give her a try. One of my favorite Zappa songs.
windbag on December 10, 2008 at 3:12 PM
I see your Zappa and raise you an R. Crumb.
Kid from Brooklyn on December 10, 2008 at 3:12 PM
She looks like Julie Chen, but with more realistic features and a better personality.
Alden Pyle on December 10, 2008 at 3:19 PM
I saw a documentary about the creeps who have Real Doll “girlfriends”. The amount of money spent on these latex loves could easily be spent on quality sex workers if they’re so desperate. I guess that’s the price to pay for a woman who knows how to keep quiet?
Sign of the Dollar on December 10, 2008 at 3:20 PM
“Take my Fem-bot. Please!”
Del Dolemonte on December 10, 2008 at 3:27 PM
YAY! AP posted a tip I sent in!
*does happydance*
As far as the robot goes, Methinks this guy has seen Chobits one too many times.
wearyman on December 10, 2008 at 3:33 PM
This is a grand master plan to build a super army
of female fembots that will be unleashed on the male
population!
Oh ya,at first it’ll be under the guise of a fembot
comfort robot,then once the numbers are sufficient,
and the geeks and lonelys are subdued,the order will
be sent,and by then,It’ll be to late!
Dawn of the marching Fembot Comfort Warrior Bots!!!
(Snark!)Haha:)
canopfor on December 10, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Death by jerky
LimeyGeek on December 10, 2008 at 3:50 PM
I’ll pass on the vid.
“24 movable joints on both hands”
I’m sure that will come in handy at some point.
christene on December 10, 2008 at 3:59 PM
He must have something fancy in mind.
LimeyGeek on December 10, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Looks and acts frighteningly like a typical Toronto Liberal voter.
shaken on December 10, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Death by jerky
LimeyGeek on Dec 10,2008 at 3:50PM>
LimeyGeek: You’ll go blind!!!!!!!!!!!!Haha:)
canopfor on December 10, 2008 at 4:02 PM
And how
LimeyGeek on December 10, 2008 at 4:04 PM
goat on December 10, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Her, or the title brunette of Gene Roddenberry’s nth vehicle for preaching : Andromeda.
Ryan Gandy on December 10, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Ugh! Thats at 3:50PM,not 3:50PM>
canopfor on December 10, 2008 at 4:05 PM
Genius or not!
This is quite possibly the #1 guy on the entire planet in serious serious need of a life!
And a date.
pilamaye on December 10, 2008 at 4:05 PM
Okay,I’ve got a brilliant idea,how about cornering
the market,say for those lonely sheep and goat herders,
and market it for the M.E.!
That way,on the open desert,under the stars,one can
share the companionship,of a talking GoatBot,or SheepBot!
That way,the herd won’t be jealous!! (Snark!) A Hem!
canopfor on December 10, 2008 at 4:11 PM
“I laugh because I cry” ~ ~ AP
Boring
Entelechy on December 10, 2008 at 4:13 PM
“You’re messing up my make-up, why would you do that.” Building fembots with this kind of reaction means that these things are gonna be like video games that start off like a good idea but then the devs screw it all up and kill the game.
- The Cat
P.S. Forget fembots, build a freeking R2 unit already.
MirCat on December 10, 2008 at 4:15 PM
I dunno….some flashing lights and an mp3 player might jazz up a hummer a tad.
LimeyGeek on December 10, 2008 at 4:16 PM
Why didn’t he just go here realdoll.com.
I did not link, adult warning (not a porn site), but an actual doll that you can buy.
I happened to have done some consulting for them about 6 years ago…they are really lifelike.
right2bright on December 10, 2008 at 4:38 PM
Talk about creepy. I never thought I’d use this term but,
EW!*
*the robot and the above quote.
rihar on December 10, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Reminds of Mudd’s women on the original Star Trek.
mydh12 on December 10, 2008 at 4:52 PM
Take one for a test drive?
LimeyGeek on December 10, 2008 at 4:55 PM
Actually, she rather looks like one of the realdolls. I suppose that’s what he meant by “tweaked”. It’s not a matter of construction, but a matter of programming.
wearyman on December 10, 2008 at 5:04 PM
Uh huh, sure you did some consulting…/sarc
Liberty or Death on December 10, 2008 at 6:07 PM
Now if the robot were gay THEN you’d really have something.
Mojave Mark on December 10, 2008 at 6:23 PM
After I posted that, I wanted to reach in a pull it back…I knew a couple would rip me a new one.
But when I first saw the dolls, it was spooky, and the skin texture is next to real.
I know for a fact one guy has bought 3 of them, and that was a couple of years ago.
right2bright on December 10, 2008 at 6:47 PM
I heard they were susceptible to awful grease infections.
hawkdriver on December 10, 2008 at 6:57 PM
Yep. Me too.
Zorro on December 10, 2008 at 7:18 PM
ROTFLMAO!!
locomotivebreath1901 on December 10, 2008 at 7:35 PM
My personal experience proves this true. I don’t know why they keep talking about this new thing called “anger issues.”
snaggletoothie on December 10, 2008 at 7:43 PM
For the so-called perfect woman she sure says “Stop that!” a lot.
James on December 10, 2008 at 8:34 PM
There was a short documentary about a similar thing called “Guys & Dolls“. Those however don’t move or talk and are primarily (though, as you’ll see if you watch it, not exclusively) for sex. Favorite lines from the film:
Funny and strange, though at the same time I kept thinking as I watched the guys in this film, how important it is to be kind to people.
Tzetzes on December 11, 2008 at 12:27 AM
The real answer is because he can, and she is probably just as good as being with any other she for this guy.
Because without the right woman in your life, none of the rest of them are worth losing your health, livelihood, wealth and soul over. And for some of us, the right woman doesn’t exist.
So for all those gals who think they are some guy’s perfect match, forget it. There’s no such thing unless you are constantly working to be his soulmate. After marriage, most of you quit trying to be his girlfriend and try to become his master. If you find yourself nagging the crap out of your man because he isn’t perfect or makes mistakes, you’ve answered the time honored question of why men find comfort elsewhere. In this case (Aiko), anywhere else but you.
Subsunk
Subsunk on December 11, 2008 at 7:09 AM
Nothing like a Stepford Wife
mindhacker on December 11, 2008 at 8:37 AM
It’s only a matter of time until some Left Coast judge says that people have a constitutional right to marry one of these contraptions. Suits me. I just wanna be in the courtroom when the first Robo-Divorce is granted and “she” gets the good car and all the money!
Venusian Visitor on December 11, 2008 at 1:02 PM
Comment pages: