Virtual Reality Sex Cinemas Will Soon Make Sex Obsolete

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By on December 20, 2016 – The Blemish

Virtual Reality Sex Cinemas Will Soon Make Sex Obsolete

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Awesome. I hope so. I hope more people dump their seed all over movie theater chairs or in robots. The planet is overpopulated enough.

Spanish researchers are currently developing virtual reality porn theaters where the audience will be able to take part in virtual orgies with the actors. Via touch screen, 3D glasses, surround sound, and vibrating seats, up to twelve people at a time will be able to engage in virtual gangbangs with stars. In the future, this may even involve sex robots to make the shows interactive.

The Daily Mail reports that Christina Portales of the University of Valencia told experts at a recent Love and Sex with Robots conference (yeah, that’s totally real) in London:

All senses have been integrated. People will see, people will smell, people will touch. They will feel the movement. It is not an individual activity. It is a group.

Inventors say this will be more addictive than porn. I’ll bet you ten dollars it makes sex obsolete.

Why female sex robots are more dangerous than you think

posted in: Media

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By Tabi Jackson Gee – The Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/female-robots-why-this-scarlett-johansson-bot-is-more-dangerous/

 

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I was going to start this article about robots with a not-so-clever reference to Fritz Lang’s Metropolis. But then I spoke to Blay Whitby, a philosopher concerned with the social impact of emerging technologies and the trivialisation of robots in the media – and I decided otherwise.

Because when it comes to robots, it’s simply no use discussing them through the lens of our favourite film or science fiction book. Cliched as it may be, the future is here; we can and should talk about reality. Within a matter of decades we’ve become entirely reliant on technology and robots are increasingly part of our everyday lives.

The latest chapter comes courtesy of Dr Trudy Barber, a pioneer in the impact of technology on sexual intercourse. Speaking at the International Congress of Love and Sex with Robotics, Dr Barber said people’s growing immersion in technology means it’s only a matter of time before it takes a mainstream role in sex.

Put simply: sex between couples will increasingly be saved for special occasions as  robots step in to satisfy our everyday needs. Dr Barber predicted the use of artificial intelligence (AI) devices in the bedroom will be socially normal within 25 years and that the machines would enable people to appreciate ‘the real thing’.

“I think what will happen is that they will make real-time relationships more valuable and exciting”, she added.

Devices such as Rocky or Roxxxy True Companion can currently be bought for around £7,000, but advances in the field are predicted to make sex robots increasingly lifelike and affordable.

Indeed, in April this year, a man figured out a way to make a robot in his own home that resembled a woman they don’t know.

Ricky Ma, 42, a Hong Kong-based man with no formal training in  robots, spent £35,000 to create a robotic woman who looks exactly like Scarlett Johannson. And there’s absolutely nothing she can do about it.

Unlike the vivacious and intelligent actress, his robotic counterpart was programmed to respond to questions like ‘you are very beautiful’ and ‘you’re so cute’ with little more than a coquettish smile and a wink.

It’s an utterly disappointing reflection of the way women are portrayed in society – Ma’s clever three dimensional creation is about as one dimensional as you can get.

The 'Mark 1' robot that looks like Scarlett Johansson
The ‘Mark 1’ robot that looks like Scarlett Johansson CREDIT: BOBBY YIP / REUTERS

Is all this cause for concern? Of course. Because right now more money is being spent on making these things than thinking about the ethical and societal ramifications. We already know porn provides a terrifying reflection on how society views women, which can manifest itself in real life.

But what happens when machines start contributing to the objectification of women too?

There’s also a real worry that people will abuse robots assigned human traits – whether it be in a sexual or physical way. Whitby thinks it’s a legitimate concern: “Will people mistreat robots? Oh yes, I’m sure. The reason I’m sure is because they already do. The way people first meet artificial intelligence is in a character in a video game that they’re shooting at.”

As we are yet to truly understand the effect that playing violent video games has on young minds, it will be years before we even begin to comprehend the knock-on effects that the mistreatment of human-like robots has on our behaviour towards each other.

Dr Kathleen Richardson, a Senior Research Fellow in the Ethics of Robotics at the Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility, has done extensive research into this area – especially in regards to women. She says: “A machine, like the portrayal of women in pornography, prostitution and the media are entirely objects for male gratification. But women aren’t like what males see in pornography or in prostitution or in popular media.

“In these areas women are coerced or told how to be have act or behave with a threat of money or violence. In real life, women really have their own thoughts and feelings and preferences and desires. It seems logical that if this extreme control can’t be experienced by men with real women, the only next step is to create artificial objects.”

The people creating these robots are also partly to blame. A 2014 Nesta study titled ‘Our Work Here Is Done: Visions of a Robot Economy’ examined how gender is assigned to machines in the workplace. Researchers found that ‘male’ robots are thought to be better at repairing technical devices while ‘female’ robots are thought to be more suited to domestic and caring services.

In other words: people with gendered ideas make robots that conform to gender norms, which then perpetuates existing stereotypes.

As long as these norms go unchallenged, and robots are designed to fulfil perceived gender roles (has anyone yet talked about a male ‘sex robot’?) this vicious cycle will continue.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. What if the people programming and designing these robots didn’t have such stereotypical views? What if they used this amazing new platform to defy gender stereotypes, and rather than serving as a poor reflection on society, instead inspired us to look at ourselves in new ways?

It’s a nice thought. But as long as manufacturers stand to make a profit from robotics, and see these types of characterisations as a means to creating more humanised, relatable machines that sell better, not much is going to change.

Inventor Douglas Hines with his True Companion sex robot 
Inventor Douglas Hines with his True Companion sex robot, Roxxy CREDIT: ROBYN BECK

At the 2016 AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science – the world’s largest scientific society) annual meeting, Yale ethicist Wendell Wallach spoke of his concerns about AI. He said: “There’s a need for more concerted action to keep technology a good servant – and not let it become a dangerous monster.”

While codes exist to guide the creation of machines, the lack of law in place means that time and effort is being ploughed into manufacturing and programming, and no one is thinking twice about the effects this will have on living and breathing humans. Being cautious isn’t sexy in the business of technology – and it rarely comes with financial rewards.

Whitby urged us to act now, before it’s too late. “We need to have these discussions instead of waking up one day when robot companions are normal and question whether it was a good idea or not,” he says.

And as this kind of technology is rolled out around the world, he had a stark warning about where the democratisation of technology is taking us: “How would you feel about your ex boyfriend getting a robot that looked exactly like you, just in order to beat it up every night?”

It’s a shocking idea, isn’t it? On the one hand, it’s a machine – it isn’t you. But then, it is you, because it stands for you, and who you are.

Whitby added: “I mean, it might be alright, it might mean he can be calmer and more normal with you – think about Aristotle’s theory of catharsis. But we really haven’t discussed this as a society. We’re drifting towards it and the technology is very close to being available, but we just aren’t talking about it.”

It’s time we started having these conversations, before those oft quoted science fiction dystopias become a nightmarish reality.

 

Sex will be just for special occasions in the future as robots will satisfy everyday needs

posted in: Media

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By Henry Bodkin – The Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/12/19/rise-sex-robots-will-make-people-appreciate-real-thing/

 

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Robots will becoming more and more life like

ex between married couples will increasingly be saved for special occasions as robots step in to satisfy everyday needs, experts have predicted.

Use of artificial intelligence (AI) devices in the bedroom will be socially normal within 25 years, an international  robotics conference has heard.

Comparing sex robots to the rise of the ebook, Dr Trudy Barber, a pioneer in the impact of technology on sexual intercourse, said the machines would enable people to greater appreciate “the real thing”.

Devices such as Rocky or Roxxxy True Companion can currently be bought for around £7,000, but advances in the field are predicted to make sex robots increasingly lifelike and affordable.

Speaking yesterday at the International Congress of Love and Sex with Robotics, Dr Barber said people’s growing immersion in technology means it was only a matter of time before it takes a mainstream role in sex.

“It could be that we are so busy with our lives, we are so embedded in our technological narrative that the idea of engaging in long-distance sex and robot sex is actually a natural process in our evolutionary cycle,” she said.

“I think what will happen is that they will make real-time relationships more valuable and exciting.”

However, AI experts have been warning that a generation of adolescents risk “losing their virginity” to humanoid devices and growing up with an unrealistic conception of sex.

In June leading scientist Dr Noel Sharkey, a former advisor to the UN, called on governments to prevent robotics being hijacked by the sex industry.

“I think what will happen is that they will make real-time relationships more valuable and exciting” – Dr Trudy Barber
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Inventor Douglas Hines with his True Companion sex robot CREDIT: ROBYN BECK

But Dr Barber said the robots would effectively become an “extra human race”.

“The question is not “when will it become acceptable” but “when will we integrate”.”

“We are able to have so many colours on our sexual pallet now; I think we’d be daft not explore them.”

Questions that will face regulators involve how much data to allow robots to collect about their human partners and send back to their manufacturers.

Others include whether to legislate for purely passive robots, or to allow devices which entice humans to have sex, and whether robots would have to make clear that they are machines rather than humans.

Kate Devlin, computing expert at Goldsmiths, University of London, said it was probable future sex robots would be designed to learn their human partner’s sexual preferences to improve performance.

“Companion” devices such as the Pepper robot are being increasingly used to provide stimulation to elderly people, particularly in Asian countries such as Japan.

Created two years ago, the humanoid robot is designed with the ability to read certain emotions from analysing expressions and voice tones.

Scientists have said there is evidence the devices are being used by parents to keep their children company.

Professor Sharkey yesterday challenged the prediction that sex robots would become mainstream.

“Sex robots will be used within the next decade but it is doubtful if they will become a societal norm although surveys show that around 10% would be prepared to use them.

“They are more likely to be viewed as tools for masturbation although having a humanoid body may make a difference to the fantasy.

“Would you leave  your sex robot out if your mum came to visit?

“Prostitution has been around for thousands of years and yet has never been socially normalised.

“The problem is the same for both.

“With sex robots and prostitution, you are having a one way relationship with an object or a person that does not return your love except by pretence.”

FORSCHER SICHER: 2050 WERDEN WIR SEX MIT ROBOTERN HABEN

posted in: Media

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https://www.tag24.de/nachrichten/sex-roboter-welt-gadgets-zukunft-london-kongress-fragen-technik-ethik-194752

 

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London – Sex – die schönste Nebensache der Welt – ist wohl die intimste Form menschlichen Beisammenseins. Doch in Zukunft könnte der Beischlaf durch Technik ergänzt, bereichert oder sogar ersetzt werden. Darüber haben Forscher am Wochenende auf einem Londoner Kongress diskutiert.

Die unter dem Titel “Love and Sex with Robots” stehende Veranstaltung widmete sich der Frage, ob es in den kommenden Jahren (vielleicht sogar nur noch?!) Sex von Mensch und künstlicher Intelligenz geben wird.

Doch welche Fragen müssten dafür zuvor beantwortet werden?

Ein Forscher hat zum Beispiel den Vorzug eines Roboters betont, der keine Ermüdung und Erschöpfung kenne. Anderseits müsste hinterfragt werden, ob ein Roboter sich allen menschlichen Bedürfnissen hingeben oder er sogar selbst aktiv werden müsse, meinte der Informatiker Oliver Bendel laut heise.de.

David Levy, ein absoluter Experte für Künstliche Intelligenz ist sich sicher, dass Sex mit Robotern Einzug halten und spätestens 2050 Realität sein wird. Vermutlich werkeln bereits mehr Firmen als gedacht an solchen Technologien, meinte er.

Der Traum vieler Hersteller sei eine menschenähnliche Puppe, die mit den Menschen interagieren könne. Ob dazu eine VR-Brille notwendig sei, wird noch getestet. Im Moment werden hauptsächlich menschliche Sexpuppen / Gummipuppen als Nischenprodukt verkauft.

Im Moment werden bereits Technologien ausprobiert, bei denen Menschen über Handys erste Kusserfahrungen sammeln könnten. Die Gesichter der Puppen sind dabei veränderlich berichtet der Daily-Star und zeigt erste Bilder, wie die virtuellen Kuss-Partner aussehen könnten.

Und natürlich bietet die Branche auch Gefahren. Zum Beispiel wenn Menschen ihre verruchten Bedürfnisse an Robotern auslassen und diese dann versuchen, sie in die Realität zu übertragen. Vergessen darf man allerdings nicht:

Selbst wenn der Sex mit dem Roboter noch so befriedigend ist, wird er doch nie die echte körperliche Nähe und Wärme zu einem echten Menschen gleichwertig ersetzen können.

From Sex Toy to Spouse: Conference Examines Evolution of Human-Robot Love Affair

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15:31 20.12.2016 – Sputnik International

https://sputniknews.com/science/201612201048786789-london-robot-sex-conference/

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Robotics and computer-human interaction is nothing new, and according to a panel of academics who gathered at a two-day conference in London, the technology will eventually advance to levels where human-robot marriages could even become a preferred possibility.

At the second International Congress on Love and Sex with Robots held at Goldsmiths University in London, the possibility of people being able to tailor a “sex robot” to such an extent that they could be made to look, smell and even feel like their perfect vision of a partner is, according to some experts, an option that could be available in the not-too-distant future.

“Someone could order a robot that looks like their ex-partner or even like their favorite celebrity if they wished. Who knows the level of personalization that could be possible. So the question of wishing to also marry their perfect creation may not be as far-fetched in the future as it may sound now,” Dr. David Levy, a leading author and expert in computer-human interaction told the conference on December 19.

In his book, ‘Love and Sex with Robots,’ Dr. Levy very much welcomes the revolution of sex robot technology as he feels that it will make the world a happier place.  Lonely and bereaved individuals could benefit, according to Dr. Levy, as would those at risk of being social misfits or the commonly isolated men who, for whatever reason, become incapable of developing traditional human relationships.

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And men are the dominant consumers of this developing market for human replicas, according to the speakers at the conference.

Sex Therapy and Robot Prostitution

“Robots are like passive inanimate objects and they could also bring a therapeutic quality for both men or women. Deep-rooted anxieties exist in society where more and more humans feel disconnected from each other and so maybe our relationship with technology could either widen the gap or teach us the importance of getting closer,” said Dr. Genevieve Liveley, a lecturer specializing in cyborg genealogy from Bristol University.

“Sex robots are just another example of technological ingenuity overcoming human conditions,” Dr. Liveley added.

Event organizer Dr. Kate Devlin, who is a senior lecturer in computing at Goldsmiths University, has previously written about sex robots being used to help sex offenders.

“We need to really understand the ethics and therapeutic uses of sex with robots and I feel we could be heading towards some kind of transhuman era as the whole sex tech industry advances at the pace it is,” Dr. Devlin told Sputnik at the conference.

“A lot of the technology currently being created is by men and for men. An area that requires a little more research is the market for sex toys as that is more evenly split between both men and women. It is my hope that the sex robot of the future will not resemble humans and instead be created as almost unique separate beings. This would save the issue of them being objectified as replacements for women,” she said.

Dr. Kathleen Richardson, an academic and director of The Campaign Against Sex Robots, although not present at the conference herself, was referenced for her well-known stance of citing an ethical link between the development of artificial intelligence (AI) sex-bot technology and the prostitution of human beings.

The development of life-like female sex robots simply reinforces a broader society narrative where women are seen as a commodity or a product that can be used, she told Sputnik at another conference recently.

‘Dystopian Fears, Utopian Fantasies’

Emma Yann Zhang, a computer science PHD student at City University in London presented a digital project at the London conference that she and her team have developed. It is a real-time kissing application called ‘Kissenger’ and rather than solely being intended as a sexual tool, it is more of a way to revolutionize social relationships and communication. It could also be implemented into a sex robot for enhanced sensory features.

“It is designed for couples and families who may be far from each other to be able to send each other a kiss, as a direct expression of love and affection. The app connects to a device which when kissed exerts exactly the same pressure sensation on the receiving side of the other person.

“It is like a technological extension of our senses and in the future we could even add further sensory variables such as smells and textures,” Zhang told Sputnik.

Professor Carey Jewitt from UCL in London was an academic attending the conference as part of a research project she is involved with, and at the end of the first day she told Sputnik:

“The conference for me has highlighted both the dystopian fears as well as utopian fantasies around human-machine relationships. In the future I feel this will very much teach us all much about ourselves as human beings and the many anxieties associated with modern life.”

“We have as much in common with cyborgs as we do with primates. Some may say that as humans in the modern world, we are in fact becoming more like robots every day,” Dr. Genevieve Liveley from Bristol University concluded at the conference.

Celebrity sex robots could thrust human intercourse aside, experts predict

posted in: Media

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https://www.rt.com/uk/370985-celebrity-sex-robot-special/

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According to a new study, intercourse between long term couples is expected to dwindle in the not so distant future, being saved only for special occasions, because robots will be taking care of people’s basic sexual needs.

In as few as 25 years, engaging in bedroom romps with artificial intelligence will be seen as a completely normal, but this may also put you at risk of having your “deepest perversions” revealed to total strangers.

It could be that we are so busy with our lives, we are so embedded in our technological narrative that the idea of engaging in long-distance sex and robot sex is actually a natural process in our evolutionary cycle,” Dr. Trudy Barber from Portsmouth University said at the International Congress of Love and Sex with Robotics on Monday.

The scientist, who is a leading figure in the study of technology’s impact on our sexuality, believes that machines will help us cherish “the real thing” and make our “real-time relationships more valuable and exciting.”

Robots will become an “extra human race” and help humans explore “our sexual pallet,” she added.

While the sex robots currently on the market will set you back a hefty £7,000 ($8,640), experts think advances in the field will lower the price over the coming years.

However, not all scientists agree that AI taking a more prominent role in the boudoir is a good thing. Some believe the practice, especially when engaged in by teenagers, could lead to unrealistic expectations of sex with other humans. Earlier this year, former United Nations adviser Dr. Noel Sharkey urged governments to stop robotics form being using in the sex industry.

Others worry about the collecting and sharing of personal data that could come with sex machines. Dr. Kate Devlin, a senior lecturer with the Department of Computing at the University of London, Goldsmiths, who also spoke at the event, said that, much like with phones and fitness trackers, “we tick the box of the terms and conditions without checking them.”

While she said giving feedback on the AI’s performance should be fine, Devlin added “but do we want people to know when we have sex and how we have sex?”

In 2007, AI researcher David Levy from Maastricht University argued that people could be marrying and bedding robots in the not so far off year of 2050.

Celebrity cash-in

Celebrity sex robots could also soon become a reality. Author of Love and Sex with Robots David Levy has argued that the likes of Kim Kardashian and Ryan Gosling could one day license their images, allowing manufactures to produce doppleganger robots using their likeness. Companies making the models even hope to one day be able to program the AIs with your celebrity crush’s personality and trademark characteristics.

They wouldn’t be the first. A superfan has spent a whopping £34,000 to create a Scarlett Johansson doll. The robot can even reply in smiles and giggles.

Sex with robots will soon be more common than the real thing, experts say

posted in: Media

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http://nypost.com/2016/12/20/sex-with-robots-will-soon-be-more-common-than-the-real-thing-experts-say/

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Doug Hines (R), owner and designer for TrueCompanion, has help carrying Roxxxy, a prototype of what Hines said is the world’s first female sex robot complete with artificial intelligence and equipped to carry a conversation.

Sex bytes for married couples — who will soon get more action from robots than each other, experts predicted at a tech conference Monday. It is possible that anybody can have their own custom sex doll. Even couples can have their own if they are into some kind of a three way action.

The use of sex robots to push buttons between the sheets will be considered “socially normal” in 25 years, said experts at the International Congress of Love and Sex with Robotics in London, according to the UK Telegraph.

But the trend will ultimately be good for humanity, predicted Dr. Trudy Barber, an expert on technology and sexual intercourse.

It will bring more value to real human relationships — and getting laid the old-fashioned way, she said at the conference at the University of London.

“I think what will happen is that they will make real-time relationships more valuable and exciting” she said.

Modal Trigger

“It could be that we are so busy with our lives, we are so embedded in our technological narrative that the idea of engaging in long-distance sex and robot sex is actually a natural process in our evolutionary cycle,” she said.

Sex robots such as Rocky or Roxxxy True Companion have already hit the market for $8,600 — and similar products are only getting cheaper and more likable, the Telegraph reported.

Some tech experts have warned that widespread use of robots in bed will breed a generation of teenagers who have no clue what real sex is all about.

Adolescents risk losing their virginity to humanoids and growing up with unrealistic sexual expectations, experts have said.

In June, scientist Dr. Noel Sharkey — a former adviser to the UN — called on European governments to prevent robotics from being hijacked by the sex industry.

Robots will soon become an “extra human race,” he predicted. “The question is not when will it become acceptable — but when will we integrate.”

Robot sex and our slouch toward a dystopian future in which love, copulation and procreation drift increasingly apart

posted in: Media
Monday, December 19, 2016, 12:52 PM

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Sex robots appear to be here to stay. This Monday and Tuesday, the Second International Congress on Love and Sex with Robots is drawing some of the best minds in artificial intelligence, robotics AND computer-human interaction to London, in the latest evidence that the industry is no longer in its infancy.You can already buy high-end robotic love for about seven grand — and they come ready-made with a beating heart, the capacity to orgasm and even multiple, programmable personalities.“Does love have to be reciprocated in order to be valid?” asks Dr. Kate Devlin, event host for the London conference. Much to her delight, she knows that our culture has already answered her question.The vision of sex celebrated by our movies and music — and facilitated by hook-up applications like Tinder — is premised on lack of feelings and commitment. The whole point is to use each other as mere objects. The rise of digital pornography (and, soon, mainstream virtual reality porn) is also premised on sexual gratification apart from there being any reciprocation.Sex with computers is just the latest example of this trajectory.

But barring any changes in our sexual culture, the game-changing nature of robotics and artificial intelligence gives many people good reason to believe that it will eventually replace having sex with humans.

Don’t believe me? Think we’ll at least need sex between humans to propagate the species?

The answer to this challenge was offered two decades ago by the movie “GATTACA.” It warned of us of a culture in reproduction is consciously separated from sex.

 

In its world, that human beings of the not-too-distant future will reproduce almost totally via laboratory technology. In the movie, people who had “religious births” (created because their parents had sex) were known as “invalids.”

In a striking scene, a geneticist working with a couple noted that, “You have specified hazel eyes, dark hair and fair skin. I’ve taken the liberty of eradicating any potentially prejudicial conditions. Premature baldness, myopia . . . alcoholism and addictive susceptibility . . . propensity for violence, obesity, etc.”

When the couple asks if they “should leave a few things to chance,” the geneticist replies, “We want to give your child the best possible start. Believe me, we have enough imperfection built in already. Your child doesn’t need any more additional burdens.”

We aren’t there yet, but as in vitrofertilization (IVF) has become less expensive and more effective — and as we continue to put off child rearing until later in life and demand genetic quality control over our offspring — reproduction will become more and more disconnected from sex.

Particularly when we have artificial placentas (not that far away) and artificial wombs (pretty far away, but coming), we will be dangerously close to proving that sci-fi scenario correct.

Anyone who has ever been through IVF knows the ways in which we can attempt to have quality control over the embryos for sale. From paying Ivy League college students $20,000 for their eggs (as long as, of course, they provide evidence of their high SAT scores and a photo demonstrating their attractiveness) — to using preimplantation genetic diagnosis of embryos to choose “the best” embryos (and discarding the rest) — we have set a reproductive course directly toward the future “GATTACA” warned us about.

If we are to stop the slide we will need a progressive sexual counter-culture.

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In Gattaca

(AGFASCNS)

It must begin by calling out how a capitalist market drives out cultural values and moral principles in the name of securing profits for shareholders of the companies which bring us virtual-reality porn, sex robots and quality-controlled laboratory embryos.

In resisting such forces, we must stand up for new cultural norms which insist that sex and openness to the gift of procreation (not the market-laden term “reproduction”) must be connected.

Arguments in favor of such connections need not rely on the Bible or any kind of explicitly religious truth, but simply on the view that a culture ruled by the norms and principles in “GATTACA” are bad and ought to be resisted. Plenty of people hold this position regardless of their (lack of) religious belief.

The current culture, of course, finds it difficult to insist on the connection between sex and the gift of procreation. Indeed, disconnection between the two may be so strongly imbedded in the developed West that it may require young people to get us rethink our sexual and reproductive practices. In addition to being far more open-minded about these matters, the dystopian future toward which we are slouching will be theirs to live through if nothing changes.

It will take a very strong sexual counter-culture to get a culture dominated by capitalism and sexual autonomy to rethink these norms. But young people have changed embedded assumptions in our culture before.

Of the next generation, we must ask the following question: “Are you going to accept your grandfather’s view of sex and reproduction, or is your generation going to challenge the status quo?”

If we are to avoid “GATTACA,” we must hope for the latter.

Camosy is associate professor of ethics in Fordham’s theology department.

Sex robots could kill humans because they’ll be too good in bed

posted in: Media

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http://metro.co.uk/2016/12/20/sex-robots-could-kill-humans-because-theyll-be-too-good-in-bed-6335200/

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Sex robots are coming and they’re going to be mind-blowing in the sack – to such a degree that scientists are concerned about humans’ health.

Unlike us puny humans, robots don’t get tired, so they could easily ‘over-exert’ a human lover, causing health problems, Swiss researcher Oliver Bendel has warned.

Basically, we’re all going to die by having way too much sex with RoboBae.

Speaking at the Love and Sex and Robots Conference at Goldsmith’s University, Bendel explained human sexuality has ‘physical limits’ – particularly for men, The Register reported.

He said: ‘If the machine over-exerts the human, it reduces the possibility of human sex.’

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Who would have thought there would be so many problems with humans and robots getting it on? (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)

Unsurprisingly, there are loads of other ethical issues when it comes to man and robot making sweet, sweet love.

Bendel questioned whether robots should have the ability to refuse consent in ‘extreme’ circumstances, which may frustrate people keen to fork out £13,000 for an android f*ck buddy.

Sex mit Robotern – wer braucht schon Beziehungen?

posted in: Media

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By von Karsten Möbius – MDR Wissen

http://www.mdr.de/wissen/mensch-alltag/science-and-sex-100.html

In London ist gerade eine wissenschaftliche Konferenz zum Thema “Love and Sex with Robots” zu Ende gegangen. Es ist ein globaler Trend – Sex mit Robotern ist gerade voll im Kommen.

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Roboter schweißen Autoteile zusammen, saugen Staub oder mähen Rasen. Aber Sex mit Robotern, das ist etwas. Das wollen sich viele nicht mal im Entferntesten vorstellen. Trotzdem ist das ein Trend, der immer mehr zunimmt. Sexualtherapeutin Carla Thiele aus Leipzig ist das Thema durchaus bekannt:

In jedem Land werden sich Leute finden, die daran interessiert sind und ich denke, dass die Community auch wachsen wird.

Carla Thiele, Sexualtherapeutin, Leipzig

Dieser speziellen Community stehen immer realistischere Nachbildungen von Menschen zur Verfügung. Eine amerikanische Firma produziert bereits erfolgreich intelligente Sexpuppen, die von ihren Nutzern lernen und sich mit ihnen unterhalten können.
Roxxxy heißt so eine Version eines Roboters. Sie hat fünf programmierte Persönlichkeiten zu bieten von abenteuerlustig über schüchtern und lernwillig. Bis zu zehntausend Dollar müssen Kunden dafür bezahlen, aber offenbar ist ein Markt vorhanden zu sein. Philosoph Christoph Quarch sieht mit dem Ende der Gummipuppen und dem Beginn von Sexrobotern eine ganz neue Stufe erreicht.

Diese Maschinen spiegeln letztlich vor, dass es eine Beziehung ist, die auf Augenhöhe stattfindet. Das hat einen Anstrich von Unmenschlichkeit.

Christoph Quarch, Philosoph

Dem würde Everard Cunion wahrscheinlich vehement widersprechen. Der Engländer war 2012 der erste Mann, der so eine Gummipuppe geheiratet hat. Und es heißt, er wäre nicht der einzige, dessen Lebensgefährtin aus Draht und Plaste wäre. Wen wundert es, dass bei dieser neuen Beziehungsform zwischen Mensch und Computer sogar der Begriff Liebe auftaucht. Für den Philosophen Christoph Quarch verlieren durch den Einsatz von Robotern eine Beziehung und auch die Sexualität ihre Würde, ihre wundervolle Einzigartigkeit:

Dass nun Maschinen für die Selbstbefriedigung auf den Markt geschleudert werden, passt in das Gesamtbild einer zunehmend beziehungsunfähigen Gesellschaft.

Christoph Quarch, Philosoph

Ähnlich sieht das die Sexualtherapeutin Clara Thiele. Sex mit Robotern an sich macht ihr keine Sorgen. Sie beschäftigt vielmehr, dass die neuen Generationen Dinge vom Computer lernen, die ihnen früher von den Eltern oder Großeltern beigebracht wurden. Wir müssten aufpassen, dass uns reale Beziehungen und Einfühlsamkeit nicht verlorengehen.

Human And Robot Marriage: Are Androids Looking Better Than Real Humans? How Is That Possible?

posted in: Media
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By Sai , Dec 20, 2016 03:48 PM EST – iTECH POST
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With the swift emergence of technology, can humans marry robots in the near future? What’s the truth behind this claim? Is it really possible that droids will soon look better than real life humans? The details, find out (Photo : Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

A sex robot expert have recently revealed that in a span of 35 years, humans will be married to robots. Apart from this revelation, the same expert has claimed that humans are bound to have sex with robots  which will allegedly become more enjoyable than with other humans, because of the advancement of artificial intelligence.

Human And Robot Intercourse: Is It Possible?

In one of his statements during the Love and Sex with Robots conference in Goldsmith’s University, London this week, The Sun reports that as per Dr. David Levy, best-selling author and robot expert has said that the first marriage will be before, not after 2050. He claimed that sex and love with robots at a human level may appear to be a long way off, but the future has a way of laughing at you.

Furthermore, Dr. Levy believes that thanks to artificial intelligence, in which a machine can learn exactly types of sexual desires humans enjoy, means sex will become “more sophisticated” and “more enjoyable” with a robot. Additionally, he reveals that robots are about to get enormously attractive as well in the near future.

On the other hand, according to Daily Mail, the sex robot expert has highly emphasized that while the claims may seem ridiculous to some, ‘sex and love with robots at a humanistic level may appear to be a long way off, but the future has a way of laughing at you. In one study, the researchers surveyed 263 heterosexual males between the ages of 18 and 67. It was consequently found that a staggering number of men admitted they would buy a sex robot, with 40.3 per cent of participants responding in this way. Ultimately, experts say that as artificial intelligence advances gear up, it’s feared a robot personality could be enough to lock another in holy matrimony.

Hacked Sex Robots Will Reveal Their Client’s Freakiest Kinks

posted in: Media

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https://www.inverse.com/article/25479-hacked-sex-robots

What if your deepest sexual desires were leaked online? It may sound similar to the Ashley Madison hacks, or some of the scarier repercussions of the UK’s spying bill, but the emergence of sex robots could lead to something far worse. These machines will learn, remember and adapt to the user’s innermost desires, a treasure trove of sensitive information ripe for hacking.

“Right now my big concern is about data,” Dr Kate Devlin, a computer science professor at Goldsmiths, University of London, said at the Love and Sex With Robots conference this week. “Do we want people to know when we have sex and how we have sex?”

Although sex robots are currently available, they pale in comparison to the A.I.-enabled machines that may arrive later. One futurologist predicts that advanced sex robots will become commonplace by the year 2050. Robotics expert David Levy predicts bots that adapt to their owner’s tastes will go on sale as soon as next year for $15,000.

Abyss Creations, which makes the RealDoll, plans to start selling warm synthetic genitalia for robots next year, part of a multi-year plan to achieve intelligent sex robot designs. The company wants to use an app to learn about a user’s desires and control the machine. But like other robots, the data the RealDolls collect through their upcoming app could potentially lead to hacks.

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A prototype of Roxxxy, claimed to be the world’s first sex robot, is unveiled in 2010.

It’s a chilling scenario, and a risk that could grow as brothels choose to buy robots to supplement sex workers. Eleanor Hancock has conducted research into sex workers operating in the north-west of England, and believes that robots will operate alongside employees as the machines learn from their human counterparts. “Why would a sex worker not jump on this technology?,” she said.

Beyond the data risks, sex robots are a controversial area of discussion. Anti-robot campaigners argue that these machines could blur the lines between fantasy and reality, while proponents believe they represent a chance to explore human sexuality to new levels and grant people new experiences. Whether they will impact society positively or not, hopefully they come with adequate firewall protection.

Computer says yes: Humans to take robot lovers up the aisle by 2050 Author and AI expert believes robot marriage should be recognised by law.

posted in: Media

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By  – International Business Times

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/computer-says-yes-humans-take-robot-lovers-aisle-by-2050-1597601

Only the lonely: Expert believes humans will marry robots by 2050 IBTimes UK

Some fear robots are coming for our jobs, others think they’re going to take over the world, but one expert believes they’ll more likely be taking our hands in marriage as he predicts humans will wed their robot lovers by 2050.

Author of ‘Love and Sex with Robots’, Dr David Levy, revealed that with the advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence the sight of a humanoid taking conjugal steps will be commonplace within the next 35 years.

“The first marriage will be before, not after 2050,” Dr Levy said during his speech at a robot conference in London.

Dr Levy believes that tying the knot with the Terminator will be such an integral part of modern life that marriages will have to be recognised by law to make a humanoid nuptials as legitimate as our old-fashioned human vowels.

“As more and more people come to accept the concept of love and sex with robots, society will come to develop laws to govern human-robot relationships,” the academic believes. “We’re being forced to contemplate what human-robot relationships will be like a generation or two from now…as love and sex with robots becomes more commonplace, we should face the very real possibility of marriage with robots.”

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Robot companions could be programmed to act however owners want.Reuters

Mr and Mrs Robot

And what would our robot bridge and grooms be like? Rapidly evolving technology will see a completely different landscape for robotics in 35 years. It won’t be like dragging a modified Henry vacuum down the aisle. Dr Levy, who has a background in AI research, described that advanced programming will see robots will have near human-like personalities, while companies are continuing to create life-like bodies to blur the lines of realism. If you needed more convincing he also revealed “robots of the future will not be jealous, boastful, arrogant, rude, self-seeking or easily angered, unless of course you want them to be.”

Will somebody please think of the children

Of course, Dr Levy recognises that the notion will be met with criticism and objection, particularly with the debate of robot romps being hotly thrashed out on the grounds of morality.

Experts have flagged their deep concerns that the rise of sex machines could have a major impact to real-life relationships as robots will fill-in the place of a human by being able to fulfil people’s “basic sexual needs”. They also fear robots could allow people to explore or encourage their “deepest perversions” while giving users unrealistic expectations of sex.

Celebrity-lookalike robots are already being produced with one fan spending £35,000 to build a scarily realistic Scarlett Johansson doppelganger droid that moves and talks, which he believes could open up a market for sex bots.

Experts also fear that the sharing of our personal data could pose a security risk but you won’t have to worry about getting a virus. Well, only the computer kind, at least.

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Love and Sex With Robots Conference Sparks Controversy

posted in: Media

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By Julie Wosk 

Professor and author of MY FAIR LADIES:

FEMALE ROBOTS, ANDROIDS, AND OTHER

ARTIFICIAL EVES – THE HUFFINGTON POST

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/julie-wosk/love-and-sex-with-robots-_b_13739374.html

 

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Are sex robots a great development or a dangerous sign of the times? Will marriage to robots someday be legal? And how about those new gadgets, like an electronic kissing machine?

The many facets of sex dolls, electronic robots, and new interactive sex toys were the focus of the Second International Congress on Love and Sex With Robots held December 19 and 20 at the Goldsmiths campus of the University of London.

Sex robots have been hotly debated. Some see them as beneficial for people who are lonely, who have recently lost a loved one, or have disabilities. Genevieve Liveley, professor at the University of Bristol, mapped out two opposing views: David Levy, author of the 2007 best-seller Love and Sex With Robots has argued that by using sex robots, “many who would otherwise have become social misfits, social outcasts, or even worse, will instead be better-balanced human beings.” But British professor Kathleen Richardson, a co-founder of the Campaign Against Sex Robots, has countered that sex dolls objectify women, and that using sex dolls to help pedophiles and rapists displace their darker impulses is a bad idea: “people who can’t make human connections – they need therapy, not dolls.”

A new kissing device delighted the audience at the conference who ran up to try it out. Emma Yann Zhang of the City University, London along with several colleagues has developed a whimsical and fun real-time, multisensory kissing device that lets couples and family members transmit kisses over a distance. In a demonstration, when a person pressed her lips into a sensor-laden pad, the feel of the kiss was transmitted to the second person holding another pad. When asked if it felt like a real kiss, “It wasn’t wet!” noted the recipient, smiling.

Sometime in the future, the Kissenger machine may be embedded in sex dolls, making them seem even more real. Said Zhang, the device could also be helpful to users of online dating websites to gauge how good a kisser their potential partner would be.

But new sex toys could also have unexpected drawbacks. Kate Devlin, professor in the Department of Computing at Goldsmiths drew attention to a class-action lawsuit launched by an American woman against the manufacturer of the We-Vibe vibrator—a sex toy that is smartphone controlled. Turns out the Canadian-based company was violating personal privacy by collecting intimate data about the users, including the vibration settings and temperature of the device.

State University of New York professor Julie Wosk, writer of this Huffington Postblog, described “A New Breed of Sex Robots” in films, television series, and plays. In her recent book My Fair Ladies: Female Robots, Androids, and Other Artificial Eves, Dr. Wosk cited men’s quest to create a robot in the guise of “The Perfect Woman”—a robot like the ones in The Stepford Wives films that were sexy, soothing, compliant, and never had any needs or ambitions of their own. But in today’s films like Ex Machina, and in television series like the hugely popular Westworld and Humans,female robots go rogue—sometimes even committing murder in order to retaliate against abuse or to gain their own freedom.

Speakers and the audience raised tantalizing questions. For people with very busy lives, would sex robots be an occasional alternative to help make marriages easier? What do we think about a recent robot clone of film actress Scarlett Johansson, who played the warm and seductive voice of the operating system in the movie Her ?

Should we be concerned with ethical issues, like the ones raised by Swiss professor Dr. Oliver Bendel about whether sex robots have the right to say “no” to certain extreme requests? Do we agree with David Levy who has provocatively predicted that with the fast pace of robot development, marriage to robots will be legal in the year 2050, if not sooner? For that, we’ll have to wait and see.

 

“Love and Sex with Robots”: Menschen, Maschinen, große Gefühle

posted in: Media

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Lisa-Leyla Öztürkoglu – heise online

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Vernetzte Technik bestimmt den Großteil unseres Alltags. Was passiert mit uns, wenn wir sie in unsere Schlafzimmer und Betten lassen? Darüber diskutieren Forscher auf dem zweiten Kongress zu “Love and Sex with Robots” am Goldsmith College in London.

Humans, Westworld, Ex Machina, Her: In aktuellen TV-Serien und Kinofilmen ist die Mensch-Maschine-Kommunikation in ihrer intimsten Form ein großes Thema. Die Pop-Kultur neigt dazu, eine mit Sex- und Liebesrobotern bevölkerte Welt als Dystopie zu beschreiben. Roboter lehnen sich gegen Ausbeutung auf, verlassen ihren Menschen oder töten gar ihren Schöpfer. Möglich wird das, weil sie über ein Bewusstsein verfügen. In der Realität ist die Technik rund um Künstliche Intelligenz (KI) noch annähernd nicht ausgereift genug, um Robotern solche Fähigkeiten zu geben.

Moralische Dilemma

Trotzdem ist Maschinen-Ethik in anderen Bereichen schon jetzt ein Thema, das für Designer und Entwickler eine Rolle spielt. Der Informatiker Oliver Bendel, Experte für Informationsethik und Maschinenethik, gab deshalb bei der “Love and Sex with Robots”-Konferenz einen Überblick darüber, welche Fragen in Bezug auf Sex-Roboter relevant sein können. Soll der Roboter zum Beispiel selbst aktiv werden und und nicht nur auf sexuelle Wünsche des Menschen reagieren? Roboter kennen keine Ermüdung, sie haben keinen organischen Körper, der ihnen Grenzen auferlegt. Damit können sie einen Menschen potenziell überfordern. Und dürfen Roboter umgekehrt auch nein sagen, sich menschlichen sexuellen Wünschen widersetzen?

Sex-Roboter nicht verbieten

Diese Probleme scheinen vielleicht noch weit entfernt. Aber vernetzte Sex-Tech Geräte, zu denen auch Sex-Roboter gehören, haben schon jetzt einen Jahresumsatz von 30 Milliarden US-Dollar und ihre weitere Verbreitung ist nicht aufzuhalten, sagt Kate Devlin. Die Informatikerin arbeitet in den Bereichen Human Computer Interaction (HCI) und KI und verteidigte in ihrer Keynote den Einsatz von Sex-Robotern. Statt die Roboter verbieten zu wollen, wie es unlängst eine Kampagne in Großbritannien forderte, setzt sich Devlin für den Dialog ein. Menschen sehnen sich nach Berührung und Zuneigung, aber nicht alle haben Zugang zu menschlichen Partnern. Alter, Behinderung oder soziale Phobien sind nur einige der möglichen Faktoren, die Menschen einsam bleiben lassen.

Devlin führt als positives Beispiel therapeutische Begleit-Roboter an, die schon jetzt in Alten- und Pflegeheimen sehr erfolgreich im Einsatz sind. Einen Schritt weiter gedacht, könnten Sex-Roboter das Wohlbefinden derer steigern, die keinen menschlichen Partner haben.

Menschlicher Kontakt durch Sex-Tech

Selbst diejenigen mit Partner können von Sex-Tech und Sex-Robotern profitieren. Die Anzahl der Menschen in Fernbeziehungen steigt stetig. Sexspielzeuge, die über das Internet miteinander verbunden sind, geben Paaren die Möglichkeit zu Intimität, selbst wenn sie in unterschiedlichen Zeitzonen leben. So präsentierte Emma Yann Zhang Kissenger, einen Mobile Kiss Messenger. Nutzer brauchen die Kissenger-Hardware, eine Art Schale, in die das eigene Smartphone gesteckt wird. Auf einer ovalen Fläche können die Nutzer ihren Kuss platzieren, der dann beim Empfänger als individueller Druck ankommt, während sie über eine App auch Video und Ton austauschen.

Erkenne dich selbst

Wird Sex mit Robotern also menschliche Intimität bald vollständig ersetzen? Die Wissenschaftler sehen es positiver: Durch den Kontakt mit Sex-Robotern hat der Mensch die Chance, sich selbst besser kennenzulernen und eigene Bedürfnisse zu formulieren. Das führt letztlich zu einem gesünderen Umgang mit der eigenen Sexualität – ob mit oder ohne Sex-Tech im Schlafzimmer. (kbe)

Sex Robots May Literally Fuck Us to Death

posted in: Media

http://gizmodo.com/sex-robots-may-literally-fuck-us-to-death-1790276123

 

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This is not a sex robot. Yet. Image AP Photo/Koji Sasahara

At the Second International Congress on Love and Sex with Robots (a real thing) Swiss researcher Oliver Bendel cautioned an audience of prospective robot-fuckers that “If the machine over-exerts the human, it reduces the possibility of human sex.”

In other words, sex bots are coming. And one way or another they’re going to fuck us to death.

Bendel noted that robots, unlike humans, don’t tire out. If issues of robot ethics aren’t addressed before these sentient Fleshlights hit the market, they could either screw us to the point of physical exhaustion, or be so much better at sex than real people that humanity might stop boning entirely.

Given the present state of teledildonics (the unfortunately named industry of internet-connected sex toys) cybergigolos are a long way off. Although if human stupidity is any indicator, we won’t bother answering the questions around their ethical construction until it’s already too late. When alien visitors finally reach Earth, they will find only a barren wasteland of broken down robot prostitutes and the neglected remains of the dumb, fleshy creatures they were too good at serving.

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