In Spike Jonze’s movie Her, an artificial intelligence operating system (voiced by Scarlett Johansson) comes up with a somewhat perplexing idea in order to have real, embodied, sex with her lover, Theodore. She recruits a woman to act as her surrogate and “become” her body during sex. Theodore tries to follow through with the plan, but after a few minutes of kissing Isabella—the human facilitating their carnal relationship—he cuts the experiment short, deeming it “too strange.” The era of human/robot love may not be upon us yet, but people and smart devices are already engaging in this kind of three-way: Two humans in a long-distance relationship (be it friendly or more) can touch, or be intimate, through technology. Remote hugging machines, for instance, make it possible to embrace loved ones from a distance, thanks to connected torso-shaped cushions. And lovers missing each other’s heartbeat can turn to Pillow Talk, a set of wristbands that will transmit This story is from Kinfolk Issue Thirty-Four Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 39 Learn Lenience We were all young once. Arts & Culture Issue 39 Pay it Forward How to be a mentor. Arts & Culture Issue 39 Be Accountable On youth and responsibility. Arts & Culture Issue 39 Think Back A reexamination of nostalgia. Arts & Culture Issue 39 Grow Up In praise of aging. Arts & Culture Issue 38 Go Online Etiquette for making rituals digital.
