Opinion / Columnist
Should sex robots be banned?
07 Sep 2016 at 12:27hrs | Views
W24.co.za columnist asks if a human can develop an emotional relationship with an inanimate object, and what will the consequences of that be?
Sex robots have become a modern reality. According to their website, more than 4000 RealDoll models have been sold across the world in the last few years.
Their competitors, True Companion offers the Roxxxy model, who will talk to you about soccer and who will always "orgasm" no matter how good (or bad) your technique is.
According to the Daily Star, robot expert, Joel Snell of Kirkwood College, Iowa, believes robotic sex will become addictive as sex bots would never say "no". Which is a rather disturbing thought.
But can a human fall in love with a robot?
Sky News reports that The Human Choice and Computers Conference, held today in Salford, UK, will explore the questions of human sexuality and intimacy with robots.
According to Sky, Dr Kathleen Richardson, a senior fellow in the ethics of robotics at De Montford University heads up the Campaign Against Sex Robots. Dr Richardson maintains that a machine would never be able to fulfil a human's need for relating and intimacy.
But do all people really want real human relationships? I guess not if you listen to Douglas Hines, founder and president of True Companion…
In an interview with Men's Health, Hines claims that his robots won't just submit to your sexual fantasies, but that they'd also offer unconditional love and support. Two words are problematic in that sentence: "submit" and "unconditional".
Shouldn't a person who requires complete submission and unconditional support from a partner, regardless of their demands or actions and without a thought as to what the partner wants, rather be in a relationship with an inanimate object than with a human being?
What about ethics?
Experts disagree on whether machines and humans will ever be able to be in relationships. Some, like Richardson remain firm in thinking that robots will never be able to replace healthy human interaction, which is why she's heading up the Campaign Against Sex Robots.
But Richardson might be too generous in assuming what people want.
There are many dysfunctional, abusive, isolationists out there, who might be perfectly happy with an inanimate, obedient, pleasure machine. Take writer, and owner of a RealDoll, David Mills. In an interview with Vanity Fair he comfortably states that while he "loves" women – "especially their legs" he doesn't like "being around people".
And then there are futurologists like Ian Pearson who believes that robots will develop emotional and sexual intelligence. In an interview with Inverse he reckons that by 2050 more than half of us will have a sex robot.
One can only hope that someone will be championing for the rights of those artificially intelligent models, locked away in basements all over the world.
Sex robots have become a modern reality. According to their website, more than 4000 RealDoll models have been sold across the world in the last few years.
Their competitors, True Companion offers the Roxxxy model, who will talk to you about soccer and who will always "orgasm" no matter how good (or bad) your technique is.
According to the Daily Star, robot expert, Joel Snell of Kirkwood College, Iowa, believes robotic sex will become addictive as sex bots would never say "no". Which is a rather disturbing thought.
But can a human fall in love with a robot?
Sky News reports that The Human Choice and Computers Conference, held today in Salford, UK, will explore the questions of human sexuality and intimacy with robots.
According to Sky, Dr Kathleen Richardson, a senior fellow in the ethics of robotics at De Montford University heads up the Campaign Against Sex Robots. Dr Richardson maintains that a machine would never be able to fulfil a human's need for relating and intimacy.
But do all people really want real human relationships? I guess not if you listen to Douglas Hines, founder and president of True Companion…
In an interview with Men's Health, Hines claims that his robots won't just submit to your sexual fantasies, but that they'd also offer unconditional love and support. Two words are problematic in that sentence: "submit" and "unconditional".
Shouldn't a person who requires complete submission and unconditional support from a partner, regardless of their demands or actions and without a thought as to what the partner wants, rather be in a relationship with an inanimate object than with a human being?
What about ethics?
Experts disagree on whether machines and humans will ever be able to be in relationships. Some, like Richardson remain firm in thinking that robots will never be able to replace healthy human interaction, which is why she's heading up the Campaign Against Sex Robots.
But Richardson might be too generous in assuming what people want.
There are many dysfunctional, abusive, isolationists out there, who might be perfectly happy with an inanimate, obedient, pleasure machine. Take writer, and owner of a RealDoll, David Mills. In an interview with Vanity Fair he comfortably states that while he "loves" women – "especially their legs" he doesn't like "being around people".
And then there are futurologists like Ian Pearson who believes that robots will develop emotional and sexual intelligence. In an interview with Inverse he reckons that by 2050 more than half of us will have a sex robot.
One can only hope that someone will be championing for the rights of those artificially intelligent models, locked away in basements all over the world.
Source - www.w24.co.za
All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
