LONDON (AFP) – Sex with robots is “just around the corner”, an expert told a global conference in London this week featuring interactive sex toys and discussions on the ethics of relationships with humanoids.
“Sexbots” are a staple of science fiction – the idea of robots as sex partners is explored, for instance, in recent films and television series like “Ex-Machina” and “Westworld.”
But some specialists believe the first animated lovers made of metal, rubber and plastic, programmed to provide sexual bliss, will take a step into reality just months from now.
“Sex with robots is just around the corner, with the first sexbots coming… some time next year,” artificial intelligence expert David Levy told the International Congress on Love and Sex with Robots at Goldsmiths, University of London.
US California-based company Abyss Creations next year will start marketing sex robots that are billed as life-like, with the ability to talk and move like humans.
Ultimately, Levy said, people should entertain the thought of marriage with robots as early as 2050.
The conference in London showcased some of the latest developments in robotic sex toys, such as gadgets which allow couples to kiss, no matter how far apart they are.
The “Kissenger”, which attaches to your mobile phone, contains sensors to detect the pressure of a kiss and transmit it to your partner’s device in real time. It has been under development for several years.
Now students at Tokyo’s Keio University are developing the “Teletongue”, aimed at providing “remote oral interaction” and designed to be “kinky”, according to co-creator Dolhathai Kaewsermwong.
It allows couples to send licking sounds and sensations through cyberspace using a “lollipop”, creating an “immersive experience”, she explained.