TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION IN SEX TOYS
KAROLINA WILDE
MARCH 25, 2025
8 MINS READ
Last updated:September 9, 2025
Technology and innovation in sex toys have come a long way since the very first sex toy was invented over 28,000 years ago. From phallic-shaped carved and polished to perfection stone dildo to AI-powered sex dolls with customizable genitals and even temperaments, the sex toy industry shows no signs of stopping.
That’s great news for us. Despite the limited data, some research shows that the rapid SexTech advancements in smart sex toys may be the key to not only more (and better) orgasms but also to help treat sexual dysfunction in men and women.
Modern luxury sex toy companies like LELO are paving the way for the new, better, sexier technology while fighting the stigma that still surrounds sex toys, one high-tech, body-safe, luxurious sex toy at the time.
The very first electro-mechanical vibrator was invented by British physician Joseph Mortimer Granville in the late 1870s. During the late 1800s through the early 1900s, doctors used this invention to administer pelvic region massages that involved clitoral stimulation as a treatment for female hysteria.
Fast forward to the 1920s when these mechanical vibrators finally reached the mainstream market: sold as all-body massagers for men and women as an effective way to increase blood flow to the area, these clunky hand-held vibrators were heavy, big, loud, and anything but sexy.
Evolution of Sex Toy Technology
The ’60s and ’70s were the time when things started to shift for the vibrator industry as the sexual liberation movement spread across the States and the world.
In the ’80s, a sex toy company in Japan started to produce animal-inspired sex toys, and their rabbit sex toy became a huge hit in American pop culture.
In the ’90s, vibrators had simple mechanics and designs focused on bright pops of color, which were supposed to be targeted at female customers.
Brands like LELO took a popular rabbit vibrator design and turned it into a luxurious high-tech vibrator for a modern woman with the Soraya.
Smart and App-Controlled Toys
Smart app-controlled sex toys have become wildly popular over the last decade. In fact, many people expect Bluetooth vibrators to be the norm nowadays. Smart sex toys equipped with connectivity features allow users to have better control over their pleasure, and it gives them a chance to personalize and customize their experience.
With smart technology, using the same sex toy never feels the same, offering people the novelty factory each time they use it and giving them agency in their pleasure. Having a remote-controlled sex toy is also useful for couples, especially if the toy offers a long-distance remote control where couples can interact with each other even without being in the same room.
It gives people a lot of freedom and fun ways to spice things up in the bedroom. The same goes for smart vibrators with an option to control the vibration settings and patterns over the app – some sex toy companies have apps that allow the user to create a custom vibration pattern (like, how cool is that!?).
These sorts of smart features used to be a dream twenty years ago, but now they’re part of high-quality modern sex toys, and they will only continue to become more refined.
AI and Adaptive Technology in Sex Toys
AI sex toys are on the rise with the rising popularity of AI in all spheres of our lives. While many people think about sex robots when we mention AI in sex technology, that’s not the whole picture.
Integration of adaptive and smart technology in sex toys allows brands to create truly phenomenal products. Cruise Control smart technology in toys like Enigma Cruise utilizes sensors to ensure that the stimulation from the sex toy remains the same throughout the whole experience.
It’s a small technology you might not think much about, but it can make all the difference when you use a sex toy.
Also, AI technology in high-tech sex toys is helping people understand their orgasms and bodies better. Brands like LELO utilize AI to help people get insights into their pleasure patterns.
Body-Safe and Sustainable Materials
The technology that allows sex toys to provide toe-curling pleasure is not the only thing that matters. The materials from which the sex toys are made from play a huge part in the whole experience and our overall health.
During the early years of sex toys and vibrators, nobody paid attention to what they were made from. It was only important that they feel good and mimic the sense of real human skin. That resulted in many sex toys being made from questionable, toxic materials.
However, with the rise of high-tech sex toys, brands like LELO wanted to offer not only the best tech but also body-safe technology. That’s why many modern luxury sex toy brands use sustainable sex toy materials such as medical-grade silicone.
This type of silicone is tested and approved to be body-safe and not carry or store harmful bacteria that might be invisible to our eyes but can cause infections and be harmful to our health.
Discreet and Ergonomic Designs
The very first vibrators in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were loud and not very discreet. Even as they moved away from being medical devices you can find at your doctor’s desk to more mainstream at-home massagers to help lose weight and alleviate muscle aches, these vibrators were still large, clunky, and loud.
Definitely not travel-friendly or roommate-proofed.
However, current modern high-tech sex toys have evolved to not only be small enough to fit in the palm of our hands (and sometimes small enough to be the size of a lipstick or a necklace) but also to be whisper-quiet.
Smaller motors in high-tech sex toys provide discretion without sacrificing power, a crucial selling point.
DOT Travel exemplifies discretion, size, and power, incorporating travel lock technology for added convenience.
People desire toys that are pleasant and easy to hold and store. They should also be quiet enough to use anywhere.
Companies focus on ergonomic designs, ensuring that pleasure is accessible and sex toys fit all bodies.
The Future of Pleasure Tech
Current SexTech advancements are just the beginning. Innovative brands can use biometric feedback for enhancement.
SexTech and sexual health are part of wellness, leading to innovative products mixing pleasure with healing.
For example, products to strengthen pelvic floor muscles can also be used for arousal and sexual routines.
We can’t forget AI and machine learning either because they are part of the industry and the world, no matter how we feel about them. Companies already have super realistic-looking sex robots.
While sex robots might remain niche for a while due to the limitations in technology, they’re here to stay. With the improvement of technology, these robots have the potential to completely change pleasure.
Also, another SexTech niche that’s currently developing quickly and has the potential to enhance high-tech sex toys is virtual reality (VR). There are many ways VR technology can be used to enhance pleasure.
One use of VR technology prominent even today is porn. VR can make porn much more interactive and a full-sensory experience for people where they can feel as if they’re actually the ones having sex.
Another use of VR tech is helping couples connect and feel closer. They can create virtual experiences to deepen intimacy through distance in ways not possible before.
SexTech will be worth over $110 billion by 2032. High-tech sex toys are the future, and we’re excited for what this expansion will entail.
The industry has changed in many ways. Sex toys evolved from clunky medical devices to pink rabbit toys to sleek vibrators that you proudly display.
The sky is the limit when it comes to the future of pleasure technology. We will discover more and more inventions as time passes by.
Conclusion
Sex toys have so much to offer. They come with varied vibration settings, patterns, and even rotation options to explore. Some are so discreet and quiet, they seamlessly integrate into your daily life, ready to go wherever you do.
Sex toys aren't just for solo pleasure anymore. Today's technology offers remote-controlled options for couples, enabling shared exploration even across distances.
And that's just the beginning. With the rise of AI and VR, expect even more interactive and immersive experiences for both solo and shared adventures.
Ready to upgrade your collection? Discover innovative, modern, and interactive high-tech sex toys designed with your pleasure in mind.
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KAROLINA WILDE
Author & Freelance Writer
Karolina Wilde is the author of House of Pain, a seductive dark fantasy romance trilogy, a journalist, and a sex-positive freelance writer. Find her on social media @karolinawilde or on her website www.karolinawilde.com.
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