At a Shanghai sex-toy expo, Chinese manufacturers showcased a range of AI-powered products, including erotic chatbots, video-synced devices and voice-activated toys. Firms such as Luvmazer, Cydoll, Amorlink and Jissbon demonstrated new interactive features, while others promoted AI marketing tools and image/video generators. Exhibitors expressed caution over privacy, consent and legal risks — especially since pornography is technically illegal in mainland China and many adult sites are blocked. Industry leaders say careful vetting of AI partners will be essential as these technologies spread.
China’s Sex-Toy Industry Embraces AI — From Erotic Chatbots to Video-Synced Devices
Visitors at a sex toy expo in Shanghai were mesmerised by the products on display, as China's adult product firms join the global AI craze (-)(-/CN-STR/AFP)
At a busy trade expo in Shanghai this weekend, China’s adult-product makers showcased a new wave of AI-enhanced devices — from erotic chatbots to toys that sync with video and respond to voice commands. The event underlined how manufacturers are integrating machine learning and connected features to make products feel more interactive and personalized.
Banners across the exhibition promoted Luvmazer, a Guangzhou-based “AI character dating” app that converts conversations with virtual partners into vibrator pulses, promising that "one sentence can make you shiver." At the Cydoll stand, a life-size, cyberpunk-style silicone doll with metal joints was displayed as a prototype designed to convey "natural" emotions and speech, according to factory manager Zhou Yuanqing.
Several exhibitors demonstrated apps that use machine learning to interpret adult video content and map changes in on-screen action to variations in pressure, speed and pulse patterns — features that were uncommon just a few years ago. "Everyone has the video syncing feature now," an employee at teledildonics firm Amorlink said, as the company displayed vacuum cups with powerful onboard computing chips.
Domestic condom maker Jissbon showed a two-in-one suction vibrator with long-distance remote-control functions, a roster of virtual "boyfriend" personas, and the ability to match frequency and intensity to ambient noise. Other firms offered AI agents to help market and operate offline adult stores or to help third-party brands build their own "smart" toys.
Consent, Privacy and Legal Risks
Some booths promoted more contentious tools. A poster for Hong Kong-based metaXsire (which did not exhibit) highlighted an "adult image and video generator" capable of producing explicit audio in more than 80 languages and claiming the ability to swap celebrities' or acquaintances' faces into pornographic clips synced to devices. Although the company’s terms prohibit using the tool to shame or harass others, the poster and site did not explain how consent for face-swapping would be verified.
"People nowadays don't go out to drink or meet their friends, and they might prefer to play games on their phones or computers on their own... but they still need companionship," Zhou Yuanqing said.
Exhibitors repeatedly emphasized caution. Pornography is technically illegal in mainland China, many adult-video sites are blocked by the Great Firewall, and developers worry about legal exposure and consumer complaints. "We have to be very careful, or there could be all sorts of problems, and we could get reported by consumers," said Sam Xie, founder of Shanghai-based Magic Motion, noting he must vet software partners carefully.
Industry Outlook
The expo made clear that AI-driven features are moving quickly from novelty to standard offering across the sector. While companies highlight greater interactivity and personalization, adoption will likely be shaped by regulatory constraints, privacy standards and the need to build consumer trust around consent and data protection.
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