Since you've been gone

Clare talking to 'J' (a relation) on the phone.

J: "... you've given up greens so you just put potatoes or whatever in the microwave?"

C: "I don't have a microwave."

J: "I bet if you fell off your perch, Nigel would be down to John Lewis in a flash."

C: "Maybe, but what he actually talks about is a Real Doll. He says that soon they'll be using real artificial intelligence to talk with you, and they'll be able to move without whirring. He says he's a fan."

J: "Talk! Like most men, he'll be content with a nice hot bowl of something!"

C: "I'm not so sure ... "

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From Forbes, August 2016.

“We are building an A.I. system which can either be connected to a robotic doll OR experienced in a VR environment,” said Matt McMullen, CEO of RealDoll ..."

"To celebrate its 20th anniversary next year, RealDoll plans on releasing a robotic head. This head would most likely work though an app and let’s be honest — might not even require the body. ... "

"RealDoll is hoping to have the A.I. done within six months and the robotic head done by the end of next year. This implies that the robotic heads will have A.I. embedded within them. McMullen has no illusions to creating totally life-like dolls, but rather wants the A.I. to focus on the experience rather than something out of Ex Machina.

“We are designing the AI to be fun and engaging,” he said ... “More than focusing on whether it can fool you into thinking it’s a person.”

The robot head (don't dwell!) can apparently be retrofitted to customers' existing dolls. The mobile, animatronic full doll is apparently set for 2020. My advice: never buy at Release 1.0.

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I honestly think that Clare need not worry. Men are not yet ready for tender endearments to be met with quotes from Wikipedia.