Robotic technology has advanced by gigantic steps in recent years and along with artificial intelligence promises to be a milestone in what has futuristic technology is concerned. In the very near future we will see many robots involved in different daily tasks and leading what could be a new industrial revolution.
In addition, there is an area in which also seeks to set precedents and is the industry of sex and pleasure. The so-called "Sex Robots" have great potential to provide erotic services to a large segment of the population with special needs that is not accessible through disability, old age or traumatic relationships. But in turn represent an ethical and moral conflict by touching the borders of legality.
The popularity of these sex robots is based on their realism and the degree of social acceptance that this entails. And although robots have a great resemblance to humans, their way of speaking and interacting with people is still at a very early stage.
The Foundation for Robotic Responsibility (FRR) has recently issued a Report where they assert that the Sexual Robots could generate an "objectification of the woman", altering the rules of consent Sexual, leading to situations that could be illegal.
According to the report's authors, this technological breakthrough could also result in a "sexual revolution," helping some people who would otherwise find it difficult to have intimate relationships. But they also reflect a great concern about what might affect human personal interactions, since the new sex robots have physical similarity of both male and female gender.
“¿Does that mean we will stop interacting with humans because it is easier to talk or have sex with robots?” Dr. Van Wynsberghe, One of the authors of the report.
In the United States, the first human-made sex cyber robots are available and can be bought or rented by consumers. Their prices range from 5000 to 1500 Dollars, depending on the model chosen. This has been the subject of much debate, but what really worries scholars, is the creation of child sex robots, in fact, are already being manufactured by a company called Trottla owned by Shin Takagi a Japanese businessman who has openly declared himself Pedophile. According to his argument, the creation of infantile androids sexual helps the Pedophiles, not to abuse of real children, would be a simple tool of sexual satisfaction.
Meanwhile Noel Sharkey, a professor of artificial intelligence and robotics at the University of Sheffield, is skeptical of such claims, asserting that the creation of such sex robots would further promote child abuse and rape.
In turn, the report quotes Patrick Lin, director of the ethics and emerging sciences group at California Polytechnic State University, who says,
"Treating pedophiles with sexual robot children is a dubious and repulsive idea. Imagine treating racism by letting a fanatic abuse a brown robot. Would that work? Probably not."
Another no less important issue is the existence of robotic models that incorporate an artificial intelligence system, which in a very basic and crude way intend to create a verbal connection with the user. The report explains that some "Dolls" have personalities programs like the so-called Roxxxy Gold, in which you can choose between their two personalities "Wendy the Savage" and "Farrah the Frigid", the latter resists To the sexual act, thus simulating a violation. This worries the authors of the project which make the following reflection:
“Clearly these products tend to make women an object, lead to the idea that their bodies are a product, although they do nothing more than the immense porn industry”
It is quite clear that this type of incipient technology requires a real attention as far as regulations are concerned. The report acknowledges that there is widespread disagreement among experts as to whether or not these erotic robots could prevent sexual crimes. Many claim that they will encourage behaviors to be avoided.
Many robotics experts are skeptical of the fact that in the coming years there are robots capable of representing a "Real Company" either sentimental or sexual. What is truly disconcerting is the speed with which these advances are progressing and what effect they will have on society.
“It is possible that this whole market is reduced to a niche dedicated to a fetishist minority, but there is also the possibility that sex with robots will change the way we relate and become the norm. There is too much uncertainty and what we need is much more science on the subject”
Sources
- https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jul/05/sex-robots-promise-revolutionary-service-but-also-risks-says-study
- https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/07/04/ciencia/1499198579_854901.html
- http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/3082993/0/estudio-alerta-peligros-mantener-relaciones-sexuales-robots/
