Scientist Claims Sex and Marriage with Robots this Century
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In scientist David Levy’s new thesis, ‘Intimate Relationships with Artificial Partners,’ Levy speculates that robots will become so human-like in appearance, function and personality that many people will fall in love with them, have sex with them and even marry them within the century.
Life-like robot being developed in Japan. It can speak, blink, and appears to
breathe, powered by an air compressor. Photo Homedad33
“It may sound a little weird, but it isn’t.” said Levy. “Love and sex with robots are inevitable.”
Levy — a British scientist and artificial intelligence researcher — based his theory on 450 publications from various spheres including psychology, sexology, sociology and robotics. His research is based on identifying certain trends that he feels will inevitably come to pass in the near future.
“My forecast is that around 2050, the state of Massachusetts will be the first jurisdiction to legalize marriages with robots.” Levy told LiveScience.
Levy has a Ph.D. from the University of Maastricht on the subject of human-robot relationships, encompassing many of the aspects that generally come with and outside of marriage.
“At first, sex with robots might be considered geeky, but once you have a story like ‘I had sex with a robot, and it was great!’ appear someplace like Cosmo magazine, I’d expect many people to jump on the bandwagon.” Levy said.
Android Twin Robot / Xi’an Chaoren Sculpture Research Institute. Photo Megzzzzz
“There’s a trend of robots becoming more human-like in appearance and coming more in contact with humans.” he said. “At first robots were used impersonally, in factories where they helped build automobiles, for instance. Then they were used in offices to deliver mail, or to show visitors around museums … Now you have robot toys, like Sony’s Aibo robot dog, or Tickle Me Elmos, or digital pets like Tamagotchis.”
Levy states that psychologists have acknowledged about 12 reasons why people fall in love, “and almost all of them could apply to human-robot relationships. For instance, one thing that prompts people to fall in love are similarities in personality and knowledge, and all of this is programmable. Another reason people are more likely to fall in love is if they know the other person likes them, and that’s programmable too.”
Young Einstein Robot / Photo Simon Pride
Levy believes it’s likely people will be having sex with robots. Companies are currently selling realistic sex dolls, “and it’s just a matter of adding some electronics to them to add some vibration.” he said, or endowing the robots with a few audio responses. “That’s fairly primitive in terms of robotics, but the technology is already there.”
As software becomes more advanced and the relationship between humans and robots becomes more personal, marriage could result. “The question is not if this will happen, but when.” Levy said. “I am convinced the answer is much earlier than you think.”
The main benefit of human-robot marriage could be to make people who otherwise could not get married happier, “people who find it hard to form relationships, because they are extremely shy, or have psychological problems, or are just plain ugly or have unpleasant personalities.” Levy said.
Ethical Implications
Setting aside morality, possibilities could prove beneficial to society. Robot sex could provide an outlet for criminal sexual urges. “If you have pedophiles and you let them use a robotic child, will that reduce the incidence of them abusing real children, or will it increase it?” asked Ronald Arkin at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.
Prostitution and the problems that arise from it could be reduced.
But “in a marriage or other relationship, one partner could be jealous or consider it infidelity if the other used a robot.” Levy said.
Actroid Der Robot / Photo CMurphy
Arkin added “if we allow robots to become a part of everyday life and bond with them, we’ll have to ask questions about what’s going to happen to our social fabric. How will they change humanity and civilization? I don’t have any answers, but I think it’s something we need to study. There’s a real potential for intimacy here, where humans become psychologically and emotionally attached to these devices in ways we wouldn’t to a vibrator.”
Robots to have Human Rights
David Levy’s thesis may not be as far off as it seems. Debates are currently occurring over robotic rights.
Robotics experts recently commented on a report published by the Office of Science and Innovation’s Horizon Scanning Centre in December which advocated a debate on granting rights to super-intelligent robots in the future as “a distraction”. They say the public should instead be consulted over the use of robots by the military and police, as carers for the elderly and as sex toys.
The authors of Robo-rights: Utopian dream or rise of the machines? wrote, “If artificial intelligence is achieved and widely deployed (or if they can reproduce and improve themselves) calls may be made for human rights to be extended to robots.”
Lifelike Actroid Female Robot
Stepford Wives Trailer
Issues of sexual inuendos with robots.
Copyright 2007 Life in the Fast Lane.
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never ceases to amaze me!!! Deborah……
the things people do….I’ll be putting an order in for a Sean Connery robot thank you
Wow ! that would be something ! I could choose the man type I like have him programmed to exactly what I want in all aspects and then fall in love with him, not before ! But I think after a while I would get very much bored ! Always the same, no fights, no reconsiliations ! no, thank you not for me !
BTW today I take the Cyber Cruise to the home of my friends in Italy which dates from 1462 ! So if you are interested to have a look ….
Can the robot go to work for me?
i can picture all those japanese anime geeks lined up to purchase the newest lolita-robos in geektown, tokyo….
Bwahaha, Sean Connery is a good place to start Kim
Gattina, I agree — I think we’d become rather bored without the typical life challenges that relationships bring us. But then again, all that could be programmed as well. Hmmmm. Thanks for the invite, you did a marvelous job on your last Cyber cruise
Hehe, good idea Peach, I’ve been wishing for a clone to help me with my work for eons
The most human-like robots do seem to be mainly in Japan Yuko. It’s actually rather eerie.
The Stepford Wives creped me out enough! The real question is, will marriage stand the test of time long enough for Robots to get in on it?
Well now that’s a loaded question
Marriage has survived centuries, with no telling how many more.
I think that this concept does have its possibilities to become reality for those that don’t have the confidence in relationships with a human mate, but still desire the live-in company.
But then, the question remains as to WHY they would want to go to the extent of marriage with a robot. Will they feel the same emotional bond that they want to make the lifetime commitment with it? That will all depend upon the individual and their perceptions.
i dont believe this. ive heard of people loving pets… but at least animals have hearts.
Very true, and exactly my sentiment, SB.
Creepy! But not at all surprising. During the century that passed people have tested the limits.
I’d say that’s an understatement Jennie
I do like the idea of using robots to act as surrogates in criminal or deviant sexual practices. Think about it. There’s supposedly no “cure” for rapists, pedophiles, serial killers. Why not let them act out their fantasies on programmable victims?
Marriage, I think is abit far-fetched, though. Sex, sure. Intimacy, probably. Some people give their cars and stereos nicknames. I don’t see anyone getting marriage licenses for them, however. Human rights for artificial lifeforms…I think this is a tad crazy. For one thing, they’re only as “sentient” as we make them to be. As constructs, they are not truly life. As smart as my smart-remote could conceivably get in the next 100 years, I’m never going to ask if it feels comfortable with changing the channel.
You do have a good and valid point about serial sex offenders, Chris. I’d be fine with spending my tax dollars that way, provided they were never unleashed to the public at large again.
Haha, I’m with you, unless perhaps it was changing the channel FOR me while I was busy
Deborah,
Not just criminals, either. Think of all the “stuff” people want you to do during sex, that you’re not comfortable doing. With a robot to do it for them, they’re less likely to someday snap due to frustration.
So yes, I can see the sexual benefits, maybe even the benefits of someone who doesn’t otherwise interact with people finding interaction with a robot, but marriage, not happening. Atleast not by 2050.
Hehe, another good point, Chris. One might even question as to whether there could even be jealousy involved under those circumstances, considering how life-like and attached one became to them
I do agree that they’re a great idea for those that have little intereaction with humans, but I can even wait longer than 2050 for the marriage thing. I’ll likely be old and long dead by that time anyway
i think it’s a interesting research in the field of robotics.this research have a wide future.i m really impressed with it.
I can see it now…. Your “wife” finds out your going to replace her with a newer model. “Honey open the front door” ….. “Honey open the front door…”
They’ve only just begun to graze the surface, Ankit
Hehe, it does put a new spin on that old phrase of trading for a newer model, Olivia
What a trip. This is new to me… I could see the applications for sex (just a glorified sex toy) but cannot imagine people getting married to robots. Some people LOVE their cars, but they can’t get hitched – LOL.
Perhaps people will just keep a robot around for when the spouse is not in the mood? That would be odd, wouldn’t it? Would you be jealous?
Wow, i seen this on t.v too.
This is pretty amazing. The things that we can do now, with science is just outstanding.
Deborah, I fail to understand why women would become “bored” without challenges in a relationship, do they really crave drama?
I would love a relationship that’s harmonious and without troubles, maybe that’s unrealistic
All hail machines, I honestly don’t think robots will take over the world like science fiction dictates. Its simple really they need us as much as we need them, whether you like to believe it or not both sides of the coin have their strengths and pitfalls.
Biological life form requires food for energy, machines require some form of power whether that is electrical or solar or otherwise. It would be very hard to commit genocide when you rely on something for support, if science fact dictates anything it is this artificial intelligence will one day exceed human intelligence. If it is true then they will most likely not make the mistake of erasing a species needed for their survival.
I honestly don’t see machines taking over, rather I see human nature taking advantage of something that will most likely never have rights.
The best wife, in Japan has created the best wife, with an option to turn it off when not occupied.
applause.