A campaign has been launched to ban the development of sex robots after academics say the use of the technology is unwanted, pointless and will only objectify women and children. In a statement on the Campaign Against Sex Robots website, they declare: "The development of sex robots and the ideas to support their production show the immense horrors still present in the world of prostitution."
Led by Kathleen Richardson, the senior researcher in the ethics of robots at De Montfort University and associate senior lecturer in informatics at University of Skövde, Erik Brilling, the campaign hopes to open up the discussion on the ethical use of robots.
The campaign follows the news that True Companion will be launching the first ever sex robot with artificial intelligence later this year. According to the company, whose doll is sold with the strapline "always turned on and ready to talk or play", the robot will help people to “find happiness and fulfilment” without any human interaction.
Speaking to the BBC, chief executive Douglas Hines explained: "We are not supplanting the wife or trying to replace a girlfriend. This is a solution for people who are between relationships or someone who has lost a spouse. People can find happiness and fulfilment other than via human interaction," he continued.
The topic of ethics and morals of using robots for sex has always been explored in film and TV. From Terminator to the recent sc-fi thriller Ex Machina and Channel 4’s Humans - we’ve seen the development of all types of robots, including ones that talk dirty. So as AI robots become more of a reality it comes as no shock that a generation who already use technology for their basic needs want to use robots for their sexual needs as well.
In fact it was even reported last year that 1 in 5 of us would jump in bed with a robot if given the chance and with True Companion’s Roxxxy and Rocky doll's costing around £4,000 it might be a while until we get the chance – never if this campaign has its way.
