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Between clouds and algorithms, the question is no longer technical, but profoundly human. Image generated with Gemini/AI.
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WORLD ------------------------------------------834[FEATURE] MY ROBOT | |||
Companion Robots and Travel: Love, AI, and Airlines?How Lovense and the Emotional Robots at CES 2026 are Redefining Human Intimacy and the Meaning of Traveling with Artificial PartnersBy Estefanía Muriel for Ruta Pantera on 1/14/2026 10:16:57 AM |
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| In Las Vegas, under the glittering lights of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2026), an unusual scene captivated attendee: a robot that not only assists or entertains, but aspires to form intimate relationships with human beings. Imagining a conversation with a machine that remembers your preferences and even seems unnervingly empathetic sounds like science fiction, but it's a reality. And in Latin America, where the search for companionship, connection, and access to technology is rapidly evolving, it's a conversation that deserves to be understood rigorously, without misinformation or exaggeration.
For those of us who experience life in community, whether in Bogotá, Mexico City, or Buenos Aires, the combination of digital loneliness and technology-mediated connections is palpable. But what does this mean for our daily lives, our intimacy, and even for such fundamental dynamics as traveling with someone "special"? Emily: More than a Robot, a Companion? At CES 2026, Lovense unveiled Emily, an AI-powered robot designed to forge personalized emotional connections with users. El Colombiano reports that Emily is more than just a household assistant; she can converse, remember past interactions, and adapt her behavior over time to create a deeper sense of connection than a typical gadget. With a realistic silicone exterior and basic facial movements like smiling and gesturing, the robot integrates machine -learning emotional software that stores preferences and personalizes responses for each user. This capability, very different from that of simple task robots, has sparked debate among technologists, psychologists, and digital ethics experts about the limits of human-machine interaction. Lovense, known for connected sex toys, argues that Emily could be a tool to address the “loneliness crisis,” offering “confidence through non-judgmental connection and safe intimate expression,” as reported by several media outlets. |
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Lovense***s emotional robots open a global debate on intimacy, ethics, and human-machine relationships. Image generated with Chat Gpt/AI. |
Robots, Travel, and a Curious Analogy
Now, let's consider a provocative example: if Emily were your partner, would you have to buy her an airplane seat or could you take her in the cargo hold? This question, while clearly humorous and somewhat absurd, serves to explore our preconceptions about technology and legality. From a legal and practical perspective, Emily is a technological product, not a person. Therefore, when traveling by plane, she would be treated as specialized baggage or a pet (depending on the airline), and not as a human passenger requiring a seat and documents. In other words, there is no framework that recognizes a robot companion as a “person” with travel rights. Airlines have very specific policies regarding oversized items, cargo, and electronic devices: bulky equipment typically requires being transported as checked baggage or special cargo, with different fees depending on weight and dimensions. This point underscores that, for now, the law responds to material reality, not to romanticized digital narratives. But beyond the joke about the seat, a philosophical question emerges: how do we emotionally integrate ourselves into entities that occupy virtual or real space in our lives? How do we establish cultural, affective, and legal norms for forms of connection that challenge traditional categories? Humanity, Technology and the Future We Choose to Build Latin America is experiencing a period of accelerated technological transformation: from smart city initiatives to debates on digital rights and connectivity gaps. The appearance of robots like Emily at global events such as CES invites us to consider how we want to integrate artificial intelligence into our communities: not only as consumers, but as societies with our own values. We can learn from diverse experiences: from mental health programs that use AI for basic support, to platforms that promote intercultural dialogue. But more importantly, we can set an agenda that combines innovation with social responsibility: strengthening digital literacy education, clear regulations for data protection, and accessible technologies that respond to our real needs and not just market desires. In short, the conversation isn't limited to whether a robot "deserves" an airplane seat or whether it can love: it's about how we define humanity, intimacy, and community in an era where we must learn to live with and manage artificial intelligence. The invitation is to chart paths that preserve our human essence while continuing to explore new technological frontiers with ethics, journalistic rigor, and creativity. |
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References: El Colombiano. (2026, January 10). Robot with artificial intelligence that reconfigures intimate relationships between humans and machines was presented at CES . https://www.elcolombiano.com/tecnologia/robot-con-inteligencia-artificial-que-reconfigura-relaciones-intimas-entre-humanos-y-maquinas-fue-presentado-en-el-ces-NE32413284 Yahoo News. (2026, January 10). Robot with artificial intelligence reshapes intimate relationships between humans and machines . https://es-us.noticias.yahoo.com/robot-inteligencia-artificial-reconfigura-relaciones-211655126.html LiveMint. (2026). Omnipresent humanoid robots, AI innovations at CES 2026 preview world of future . https://www.livemint.com/focus/omnipresent-humanoid-robots-ai-innovations-at-ces-2026-preview-world-of-future-11768190417663.html |
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