Artificial Intimacy: Gynoid and Artificial Intelligence in Japanese Character Intimacy Game Software

Within Japanese video game production, video games centered on developing intimate bonds with characters depict artificial intelligence in gendered fashion. Kikaijikake no Ibu -Dea Ex Machina- is one such work, featuring romanceable gynoid characters juxtaposed with a science fiction narrative. This paper provides an exploration of the game, with particular attention to the affordances exerted by the marking of characters as gynoids, providing perspectives regarding modes of depicting artificial intelligence within a niche Japanese game culture. A.I. is articulated as gynoid (maid robot) characters, filling gendered roles emotionally complementary with the user’s own position, highlighting overarching tendencies of living with and interacting intimately with technology. How does artificial intelligence fit into games of intimacy? What kind of relations it engenders with users? Through close reading of Kikaijikake no Ibu -Dea Ex Machina-, this paper highlights the effects of a gendered media culture on representations of artificial intelligence as gynoids. This places the AI into a submissive position. At the same time, users are in a subservient position with both technology and its gendered character embodiment.