Society must consider risks of sex robots, report warns

As robots designed for sex are now available, policy makers must start to consider how they are being used and whether regulation is needed, a report from the Foundation for Responsible Robotics warns, as use of these “sexbots” will inevitably grow as technology evolves and their price drops.1

Aimee van Wynsberghe, assistant professor in ethics and technology at the Technical University of Delft, Netherlands, and codirector of the Foundation for Responsible Robotics, told a UK press conference in London on 4 July that the report had been published to encourage policy makers, academics, the technology industry, and the public to think about the issues involved.

“Clearly there isn’t much of a conversation happening about what is acceptable or permissible and what should be promoted,” said van Wynsberghe. “There is a lot of talk about [how] maybe we should have certain robots, we should have a prescription for a certain robot—and that is the kind of suggestion that needs to be discussed in a public forum.”

Another codirector, Noel Sharkey, emeritus professor of artificial intelligence and robotics at the University of Sheffield, UK, explained that stiff competition between manufacturers of sex dolls meant that companies had begun to robotise them “so that they can get an edge on the market.”

Although the dolls cannot walk they can speak, simulate sexual functions, and adapt to their user’s needs and even moods by using sensors and facial recognition technology.

Companies are now talking about including artificial intelligence technology so that the robots will provide companionship, Sharkey explained. “People have the desire to be desired, but these things can’t desire you back,” he warned. “The best they can do is fake it and have an orgasm and pretend to like you.”

Policy makers must consider whether use of these dolls will remain a niche fetish or whether to allow their use to become more widespread and change our societal norms, he said.

Sexbots have the potential not only to cater to the sexual needs of lonely people but also disabled and elderly people. They may also have a role in sex therapy for erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and anxiety about sex.

Controversial suggestions have been made about the use of sex robots in therapy to help prevent sex crimes such as violent assault, rape, and paedophilia, the report said. But most experts believe that this is a dangerous road that could actually increase the occurrence of these crimes, as well as the objectification of women.

Sharkey emphasised, “Use of them as therapy for rapists and paedophiles and the use and proliferation of paedophile sex robots really needs to be looked at. Personally I would call for a ban [of child sexbots].”

Four companies are now marketing adult sex robots (Abyss Creations, Android Love Dolls, TrueCompanion, and Sex Bot Company), and a fifth (Trottla, in Japan) makes child-like models designed to appeal to paedophiles. The robots, which sell for $5000-$15 000 (£3870-£11 620; €4420-€13 250), are completely customisable in terms of appearance—allowing the buyer to select everything from hair and eye colour or nipple shape to requesting that the model be made to look like a specific person.

One of the robots—Roxxxy, by TrueCompanion—has different selectable personalities, one of which (“Frigid Farrah”) will resist sexual advances. Sharkey said, “Some people would say that it is better that people rape robots rather than people. There’s other people saying this would just encourage rapists more.”

Shin Takagi, a self confessed paedophile who set up Trottla, argues that the child-like dolls the company produces can help would-be paedophiles from offending. “We should accept that there is no way to change someone’s fetishes,” he said. “I am helping people express their desires, legally and ethically.”

Patrick Lin, philosophy professor and robot ethicist at California Polytechnic in San Luis Obispo, USA, warned, “Treating paedophiles with robot sexchildren is both a dubious and repulsive idea. Imagine treating racism by letting a bigot abuse a brown robot.

“Would that work? Probably not. If expressing racist feelings is a cure for them, then we wouldn’t see much racism in the world.”