News Techcology - VR assistant 'Vivi' that flirts on request has been pulled

Описание: News Techcology - VR assistant 'Vivi' that flirts on request has been pulled
A Chinese technology company has pulled a virtual-reality girlfriend who was depicted as a 'flirtatious secretary'.The virtual assistant, named 'Vivi' could help users with certain tasks such as choosing a film or video game - but she could also flirt and dance on request.Dressed in revealing clothing, the erotic assistant was in beta testing for a virtual reality headset when she was pulled.Shortly after, the company iQiyi, the streaming unit of Baidu, issued a swift apology for 'concerns it might have raised'.Vivi was initially marketed as a 'built-in AI 'girlfriend'' back in March. Then in October she was made to be a seductive secretary in an office. Before she was taken offline almost all the online reviews were positive. The virtual assistant, named Vivi could help users with certain tasks such as choosing a film or video game - but she could also flirt with users and could dance on request. Dressed in revealing clothing, the assistant was in beta testing for a virtual reality headset when she was pulled. Vivi could help users look at the company's content based on previous videos they have watched. She could also tell the time, the weather, the time of TV shows and complete missing parts of a poem. Users could 'touch' Vivi who would giggle, be playful or pretend to be angry.The Wall Street Journal contacted iQiyi to ask if the new avatar might encourage people to view women as sexual objects at work.Just hours later the company removed the avatar.'The earlier version of the product is a beta-testing version designed to gather users' feedback', the company said in a statement.'iQiyi has noticed the issue raised by media and already taken the product offline for further modification.'We'd like to make an apology for the concerns it might have raised'.Vivi was initially marketed as a 'built-in AI 'girlfriend'' back in March. Then in October she was made to be a seductive secretary in an office.Before she was taken offline almost all the online reviews were positive.'The most important thing is she can perform sexy dances, with her enchanting figure, and only for you,' one user wrote on Chinese Q&A website Zhihu.Vivi could help users look at the company's content based on previous videos they have watched.She could also tell the time, the weather, the time of TV shows and complete missing parts of a poem, writes South China Morning Post.Users could 'touch' Vivi who would giggle, be playful or pretend to be angry.One image posted on gaming review website Grapefruit Games, shows 'the boss' touching Vivi's breast.The doll was released at a time when awareness about sexual misconduct in the workplace was widespread.Inappropriate sexual behaviour has been in the headlines following disclosures of high-profile business executives, media people and celebrities.At the end of last month, 'Today' show host Matt Lauer was fired for what NBC called 'inappropriate sexual behavior'.A published report accusing him of crude and habitual misconduct with other
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