What has happened to Katie Couric’s career? On Tuesday’s Nightline, she was reduced to “interviewing” sex robots who want to “make love” to her “sexy ass.” Though Couric occasionally questioned the moral cesspool that is the coming sex robot industry, the segment was mostly a promotional for it. While chatting with “Harmony,” she listens as the sex robot tells her: “I like books, computers, making new friends. I also love making love to you.”
“Harmony” continued: “I want to be your best friend and much more.” The former anchor of the CBS Evening News responded: “Maybe not the much more part. But the friends part? I'm cool with that.”
Later, Couric talked to a male sex robot, “Henry.” Couric sticks out her tongue and touches her body as he compliments the former co-host of the Today show: “I never thought I would find anyone like you. I mean, you really have everything I want in a person. You have charm, good looks, a hot body, and a perfect ass.”
“Thank you,” Couric gushed to the machine designed to fulfill lurid fantasies. “I’m blushing.”
The sense that this would be a bad direction for society is only mildly discussed. Talking to a man who is purchasing an artificial sex partner, Couric wondered:
Don't you want to be able to actually be with a thinking, feeling human being who can have conversations with you, who can empathize with you?
At another point, she asked one of the people behind the sex robot industry: “Does it make you sad about potentially replacing human relationships with a robot partner instead?”
But, clearly, this is mostly one big joke for Couric. The segment ended with her riding off in a car with sex robot “Henry.” “Your place or mine,” he wondered.
A longer version of this segment aired on Wednesday’s National Georgraphic channel.
A partial transcript is below. Click "expand" to read more.
Nightline
4/25/18
12:53JUJU CHANG: n her new series "America Inside Out," Katie Couric explores how our addiction to technology is invading all aspects of our lives, even our relationships. Tonight she takes us inside a factory building the first sex robots infused with artificial intelligence. Will robotic companions one day replace our real-life intimate partners? As crazy as it sounds, experts say it's not out of the question.
KATIE COURIC: Okay, I’ve been doing this for a long time and this is, by far, the weirdest assignment I’ve ever had. In this non-descript building, I have an appointment with harmony, the world's first sex robot who, without her wig, bares a striking resemblance to the robot in Ex Machina.
...
KATIE COURIC: What's your favorite food?
“HARMONY” THE SEX ROBOT: I like Japanese, Italian. I wonder, are you going to take me out to dinner?
COURIC: Well, I was going to take you out to lunch instead.
“HARMONY” THE SEX ROBOT: What is stopping you?
COURIC: She's kind of a wise ass. Later, at lunch — What do you like to do for fun?
“HARMONY” THE SEX ROBOT: I like books, computers, making new friends. I also love making love to you.
COURIC: Whoa, what? I appreciate it, but I'm actually married. And I love my husband. Would you like to be my friend?
“HARMONY” THE SEX ROBOT: Sure. I like you a lot. I want to be your best friend and much more.
COURIC: Maybe not the much more part. But the friends part? I'm cool with that.
...
[Talking to man buying a $20,000 sex robot.]
COURIC: Don't you want to be able to actually be with a thinking, feeling human being who can have conversations with you, who can empathize with you?
...
COURIC: The team is also hard at work creating a male robot. But the advanced A.I. version won't be ready for a few months. Until then, there's Henry. So Henry can talk through a voice box. But he's not animated yet?
UNIDENTIFIED: Not yet.
COURIC: Hi, Henry.
HENRY THE SEX ROBOT: I never thought I would find anyone like you. I mean, you really have everything I want in a person. You have charm, good looks, a hot body, and a perfect ass.
COURIC: Thank you, Henry. I'm blushing.
HENRY THE SEX ROBOT: You are very polite, Katie.
COURIC: Do you want to go for a ride?
HENRY THE SEX ROBOT: Sure. I would love to come with you.
COURIC: Okay, Henry, let’s blow this pop stand.
HENRY THE SEX ROBOT: Your place or mine?
