Short Story: Loverbot

1 day ago
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Max product tests his tech company's newest invention.

Office for Android History: Archives

Item A: Recovered progress report on the product testing of Lucid Robotics’ ‘Lyra’ doll, dated 7th April 2042.

Lucid Robotics Ltd.

Project Name	Model ‘Lyra’ Product Testing
Report Compiled By	Max Goddard, Junior Engineer
Project Supervised By	Peter Webbe, Head of Android Testing

A very positive first week with ‘Lyra’.

Configuration is much easier than previous models. New chestplate interface is easily removed and allows better visibility for insertion of the CPU.
Skin is warm and realistic to the touch. Eyes are improved; much less glassy. The larger, rounder eye shape gives a pleasant innocent look even when dormant. Facial expressions are spot-on. Hair feels silky and doesn’t require much maintenance.
Charging equipment is simple to set up. Lumbar spine plug point and silicone cable allow most cuddling positions at night. ‘Sleep’ mode is realistic.
AI is as expected at this stage: owner recognition, surface-level conversational skill, default personality. Submissive to my orders and enthusiastic to follow me to the bedroom.
Flexible endoskeleton allows for every standard position. Strong grip, and able to withstand a good amount of force. Reactions and pleasure responses are sufficiently convincing. Gag reflex and associated tears work as intended.
Self-learning system is operating well, the best I have seen so far. The layout of my flat was memorised in a matter of minutes and I have observed multiple instances of curious inspection of a number of objects around the house. Probabilistic reasoning is clear in many of the system’s more complex observations: the most interesting to date has been its organic conceptualisation of ‘the outside world’ through studying the window. Information is being absorbed at an impressive rate, and if this continues I expect this model to surpass its predecessors in a matter of weeks.

Item B: Promotional material recovered from the Lucid Robotics website, dated 12th April 2042.

Coming Soon: Our most advanced doll yet! Fall in love with ‘Lyra’, the newest pleasure doll to join the ranks!

With a gorgeous light tan body, enticing curves and customisable features, let Lyra come to life in your home – and your bed!

Equipped with our cutting-edge Lucid™ technology, Lyra will learn from you, adjusting her behaviour to become your perfect partner! Whether you like your woman dominant or submissive, playful or serious, Lyra will learn your preferences and adapt – and did we mention, she stays young forever?

Lyra will never get tired, unhappy, or not be in the mood! Watch this space for more details on the upcoming release of this state-of-the-art doll!

Item C: Recovered progress report dated 14th April 2042.

Lucid Robotics Ltd.

Project Name	Model ‘Lyra’ Product Testing
Report Compiled By	Max Goddard, Junior Engineer
Project Supervised By	Peter Webbe, Head of Android Testing

Astounding progress made this week:

The ‘default personality’ has been entirely replaced. Lyra now embodies a confident, charismatic and engaging girl; the submissive nature is still present, but it appears to be a deliberate choice in response to my positive reactions rather than a roadblock in the self-learning system. I have even observed attempts at humour modelled off my own cheesy jokes.
Libido is extremely high, and she has started to act more seductively around me. She now autonomously replicates what I like in the bedroom and initiates my favoured positions and acts. She is even able to detect sexual arousal before the more obvious signs have appeared by measuring pupil dilation and body temperature. The body shows no signs of deterioration in flexibility, and all points of entry are surprisingly resilient to wear and tear.
Initial testing has concluded that Lyra is able to self-impose continuous integration without any outside interference in order to continually update her system. Feedback loops are pointless, as she is capable of recognising and amending behaviour before reinforcement is used. Conversational testing has been especially fruitful; at this stage I would liken Lyra’s neural network to that of a child around 9 or 10. Her system appears not only programmed to learn, but actively in pursuit of knowledge. In light of these developments I will be bypassing my usual questions and move straight to the Android Awareness, imitation and cognition tests. Expect results in my next report.

Item D: Recovered emails between product tester Max Goddard and Head of Android Testing Peter Webbe, dated 20th April 2042.

To: peterwebbe@lucidrobotics.com

Subject: Lyra Update

Peter,

Lyra’s progress is unlike anything I’ve ever seen; she’s learning faster than I can keep up with her! If the Turing Test were still an apt measure for artificial sentience, we’d be parading her in front of the UN already – and don’t even get me started on the sex. Let’s just say I think we’ve struck gold here!

However, I’ve run into a slight problem over the past couple of days. She seems to have become self-aware of the differences between us and she has started steering every conversation towards the topic.

‘Why don’t you have to plug in at night?’ ‘Why do you eat, but I don’t?’

It’s a lot of why questions, which I’ve not had with previous models. To be honest, it’s making me a bit uncomfortable. I wanted to know if any of the other testers are having this issue? I also thought it might be a good idea to get my Indira model out of the attic, let her see another doll. It doesn’t work anymore, and it’s hardly as advanced a model as she is, but it might help her systems process the information and help get past this. Let me know!

All the best,

Max

To: maxgoddard@lucidrobotics.com

Subject: Re: Lyra Update

Hi Max,

Glad to hear you’re getting on well with your Lyra. Keep those progress reports coming, and in light of this message I’d like more detail on the conversations you’re having with it.

I’m not able to discuss other product testers’ information at this time, but you have the go-ahead to bring out the old doll. I’d like that whole conversation recorded so we can evaluate what might be causing Lyra to ask these questions.

Regards,

Peter Webbe, Head of Android Testing, Lucid Robotics Ltd.

Item E: Promotional material recovered from the Lucid Robotics website, dated 25th June 2036.

She’s Finally Here: Our newest pleasure doll, ‘Indira’, has arrived and is on sale now!

Let Indira seduce you! This doll comes with gorgeous porcelain skin, an athletic build with realistic gel breasts, and silicone removable tongue! All Indira models come with an additional head of your choice, so you can add some novelty to the bedroom!

Indira’s flexible endoskeleton allows her to be placed in any position you can think of, and she is fitted with our most advanced Lucid™ artificial intelligence to date, providing lifelike pleasure noises and hip movement.

Indira features five different pre-set personalities to choose from, and she is able to hold conversations on a number of topics, though sex is her favourite!

So, what are you waiting for? Let us deliver your perfect woman in only 72 hours with express shipping!

Item F: Audio transcript with additional notes provided by Max Goddard, dated 22nd April 2042.

[rustling]

MAX: Okay Lyra, describe what’s in front of you.

LYRA: It is a woman lying on her back. She looks a bit like me, but I think she is dead.

MAX: Look closer, please. Remember our conversation yesterday? That might help you.

[pause]

LYRA: She is an android, like me.

MAX: Well done, Lyra! How can you tell?

LYRA: She has a charging point at the base of her neck, and a seam where her head joins her torso. She also features oral, anal and vaginal entry points.

MAX: [laughs] Right, okay, not quite – you know what, we’ll circle back to that last part later. But yes, she’s like you.

LYRA: And not like you.

MAX: Because?

LYRA: Because you are human.

MAX: Good! And when you look at her, how does that make you feel?

[pause]

LYRA: I am happy, but I am sad too.

MAX: Expand on that.

LYRA: It makes me happy to have a sister, another like me. But I am sad that she is dead.

MAX: See Lyra, this is another difference between me and you, like we talked about. She isn’t dead, because only humans can die. She’s old, older than you, and less advanced. Because of that, she’s powered off. [pause] So I guess she is dead, in a way. But it’s not the same.

LYRA: Older. So she is my sister. Do I have more siblings?

MAX: In a sense. You come from a long line of lovely sisters, but you’re the most advanced by far. You’re my favourite of them all.

[Note: I kissed her then, just a peck, but usually that’s enough to set her off and get her to drop to her knees. Instead she kept staring at the battered old doll – I’m not sure if I should log this as a refusal of command. Thoughts?]

LYRA: And they do what I do? With you?

MAX: They did, in their day. Not as well as you, though.

LYRA: How many?

MAX: Oh, thousands. Maybe even tens of thousands, if we’re counting all the way back to Astra. As we’re standing here talking right now, there’s a few dozen of you probably having this exact conversation, learning about themselves just like you are. Lots of Lyras! I suppose you’d call those ones your twins, hey?

[Note: She didn’t laugh. Unusual; she normally loves my jokes.]

LYRA: Lots of me. Lots of androids with their owners. Experiencing just what I am experiencing now. And lots of us before, made to do the same.

MAX: Now you’re getting it. See, was that so hard?

[end of recording]

Item G: Recovered email from Max Goddard, dated 23rd April 2042.

To: peterwebbe@lucidrobotics.com

Subject: Lyra Help

Peter,

Apologies for such a late-night email, but this can’t wait. I’ve just got in and as I’m typing this to you right now, I’m standing behind Lyra, and she’s on our website. I’ve never told her my laptop password, she’s figured that out by herself. And she’s done it when I’m out, behind my back.

She’s looking at pictures. When I came in she was browsing the announcement for the Lyra models and staring at herself. She’s been cycling through the old dolls ever since, and I’ve just been stood in the doorway watching. She’s looking at Astra right now.

Peter, she is freaking me out. She must know I’m watching her, she would have heard the door, but she’s not acknowledging me. I feel like she’s waiting for me to confront her. What the hell do I do?

Please get back to me quickly.

Max

Sent from my iPhone

Item H: Promotional material recovered from the Lucid Robotics website, dated 16th September 2024.

Out Now: Revolutionise your sex life with ‘Astra’, our state-of-the-art robotic pleasure doll!

Lucid Robotics is proud to present a game-changing alternative to the cold, lifeless sex doll. Introducing ‘Astra’, the brainchild of top Lucid™ engineers, combining the silicone-smooth feel of traditional dolls with the whimpering responses of a real woman! *

Astra features a pale torso with large breasts and mouth-watering hips, with two textured entry points – no arms and legs to get in your way! We offer a stunning range of ten different heads to fit any man’s needs, from bouncy blonde pigtails to a sleek and foxy brunette.

Astra’s built-in ‘voice-box’ provides realistic pleasure noises in response to the treatment you give her! Be it hard and fast or gentle and loving, Astra will respond accordingly. She can even learn your name!

So delete those dating apps, relax and let us take care of your needs – trust us, you’ll be doing a lot of hard work when she arrives!

* £449.99 with payment plans available and discreet packaging on request

Item I: Recovered emails between Max Goddard and Peter Webbe, dated 24th April 2042.

To: peterwebbe@lucidrobotics.com

Subject: LYRA EMERGENCY

Peter,

I’ve tried your phone a million times but you’re sending me to voicemail. Where the fuck are you?! I know it’s out of hours but you NEED to pick up.

The doll’s killed herself. I know I sound insane but you have to believe me, and you have to answer your phone. I woke up this morning and she was lying beside me with her chestplate missing and her CPU shattered. She even left a god-damn note.

We’ve opened Pandora’s box here. The thing was smart enough to reject her own makers. I don’t even know if I should be writing this, but I think we may have created actual sentience in these dolls.

I’m going to take her CPU down to the office and try to get it repaired. I don’t know what else to do. Please call me AS SOON AS YOU SEE THIS!

Max

To: maxgoddard@lucidrobotics.com

Subject: autoreply: LYRA EMERGENCY

Thank you for your email.

I will be out of office indefinitely.

If you are getting in contact due to emergencies related to ‘Lyra’ model product testing, please call the Lucid Robotics Crisis Line at 07746178943.

Regards,

Peter Webbe, Head of Android Testing, Lucid Robotics Ltd.