Last week, a conference dedicated solely to the subject of sex robots took place at Goldsmiths, University of London. It may seem like an unnecessary topic to explore in such depth, but the truth is that this technology not only exists but it's advancing rapidly. More rapidly, in fact, than our knowledge of how to handle it.
At the Love and Sex with Robots Conference, computer scientists, psychologists, and ethicists came together to discuss the progress of robotics and how it might affect our sex and love lives. Here are some of the strangest, most surprising insights that came out of the conference:
1. A lot of people are pretty down with the idea of sex with robots
At first blush, robot sex seems a little freaky, but apparently a lot of people got over it. One study presented at the conference found that 40 percent of straight men would buy a sex robot. People who liked robots in general and saw human qualities in them were more likely to be open to that possibility.
At first blush, robot sex seems a little freaky, but apparently a lot of people got over it. One study presented at the conference found that 40 percent of straight men would buy a sex robot. People who liked robots in general and saw human qualities in them were more likely to be open to that possibility.
2. Experts want to bring sex robots into nursing homes
"The thing that interests me is the use of sex tech for the elderly in care homes because when we say to old people, 'We're going to put you in a care home.' It really infantilizes them. But these are still grown adults with the same amount of desire for intimacy," the conference's organizer, Dr. Kate Devlin, told Express.co.uk. “You could be talking about someone who has lost a husband or a wife and they’re feeling alone and perhaps that is one thing that we could offer.” It's technology that would probably get a lot of use: plenty of nursing home residents are already having sex with one another.
"The thing that interests me is the use of sex tech for the elderly in care homes because when we say to old people, 'We're going to put you in a care home.' It really infantilizes them. But these are still grown adults with the same amount of desire for intimacy," the conference's organizer, Dr. Kate Devlin, told Express.co.uk. “You could be talking about someone who has lost a husband or a wife and they’re feeling alone and perhaps that is one thing that we could offer.” It's technology that would probably get a lot of use: plenty of nursing home residents are already having sex with one another.
3. We'll be able to have robotic partners within a decade
At least that's the prediction of David Levy, author of Love and Sex With Robots. "We have companion robots, and a partner robot is the logical continuation of the trend," he said. "In the next 10 years it is perfectly achievable in software to create a robot companion that is everything that people might want in a spouse—patient, kind, loving, trusting, respectful, and uncomplaining." Then again, he added, "some enjoy the friction of a relationship and may want to marry an aggressive robot. Some people would find that exciting." Another prediction of Levy's: With their permission, we could have sex with robotic replicas of celebrities.
4. Sex robots may be the deadliest robots of all
One area where robots already have humans beat is stamina—which could end up putting our own endurance to the test. “If the machine over-exerts the human, it reduces the possibility of human sex,” warned Oliver Bendel, a scientist at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Switzerland.
One area where robots already have humans beat is stamina—which could end up putting our own endurance to the test. “If the machine over-exerts the human, it reduces the possibility of human sex,” warned Oliver Bendel, a scientist at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Switzerland.
5. Sex robots will be for sale as early as next year
There are already some sex-robot-like devices out there, from sperm extraction machines to sex doll escorts. And according to Levy, Abyss Creations will launch a realistic line of sex robots this year. No word on whether this means we should get ready for Westworld to become a little more real.
There are already some sex-robot-like devices out there, from sperm extraction machines to sex doll escorts. And according to Levy, Abyss Creations will launch a realistic line of sex robots this year. No word on whether this means we should get ready for Westworld to become a little more real.
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