“Kathleen Richardson is worried about sex robots. Now a robot ethics researcher at De Montfort University, she’s spent the last 15 years looking at robots ‘designed to take on intimate roles, that were once thought off-limits to machines—companions, friends, lovers,'” Hope Reese reports for TechRepublic. “While the concept of a robo-girlfriend may seem farfetched, there is the prediction that most of us — yes, you read that right — will be having sex with robots by the year 2050. And although sex robots are nowhere near mainstream, companies like True Companion and RealDoll have already developed strikingly realistic models (if you have any doubt about how realistic, look at the New York Times video). Some of these ‘companions’ can engage in ‘conversation,’ and can even download different personalities.”
“Earlier this year, Richardson, along with Erik Billing of the University of Skövde in Sweden, formed the Campaign Against Sex Robots, whose mission is to raise awareness about how these robots ‘are potentially harmful and will contribute to inequalities in society,'” Reese reports. “How can the existence of a robot contribute to inequalities? Richardson believes that the asymmetrical balance of power between human/sexbot is a parallel to the real-world prostitute-john relationship. The robot, like a prostitute, becomes an object for purchase.”
“While the focus of Richardson’s campaign is sexbots, her broader concern is with any robots that replace relationships with humans, including companion robots for the elderly” Reese reports. “‘Could we live in a world where we’re no longer interacting with each other? Where this machine is constructed to meet our needs, to give us what we want?” Richardson asked. “All the evidence is saying no.'”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take:
Wait Vanessa, I can explain. You see, I was looking for Dr. Evil when the Fembots came out and smoke started coming out of their jomblies. So I started to work my mojo, to counter their mojo; we got cross-mojulation, and their heads started exploding. — Austin Powers
