by Luke Johnson

20 December 2016

We’ve known for years that robots are the future of everything, TV has told us so.

While you’d be happy for one to wash your dishes or iron your clothes, however, you might not have thought that they’d end up as your go-to bedmate of choice.

According to researchers, though, not only are sex robots on their way, they could be so good at the extra curricular activity that it puts human life in danger.

How? Well, Swiss researcher Oliver Bendel has warned an audience at the Second International Congress on Love and Sex with Robots (sadly that is a thing), that it’s because they’ll never tire.

Related: What’s the best headset for VR porn?

image: http://imagineeringinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/robot-sad.jpg

If the thought of getting down and dirty with a machine isn’t enough to put your off the state of the human race’s future, how’s being humped to death by a sex robot sound? Not too appealing, no?

“If the machine over-exerts the human, it reduces the possibility of human sex,” he said.

That’s not all we’ve got to worry about from robot lovers either.

As well as being inexhaustible lovers, Bendel suggests that robots could be so good at getting your rocks off, that traditional human lovers will pale in comparison.

That could mean fewer people actually procreating and humans going to way of the dinosaurs – sort of.

Don’t worry though, all of this scarier than the Terminator tech is still a long way off yet. Until then you’ll just have to make do with the latest tech-enhancement to your love life, VR.

http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/researches-warn-sex-robots-could-be-so-good-humans-stop-mating#8t8YYB18DfTCR9xQ.99

by Luke Johnson

21 December 2016

The robot uprising is coming, but it looks like the machines are going to try befriend us before taking over the world.

Despite what films like Terminator and iRobot have taught us, scientists have predicted the next couple of decades will see us entering relationships with, and even marrying, robots rather than taking up arms against our new droid masters.

At least that’s the viewpoint of Dr David Levy, author of the bestselling book ‘Love and Sex with Robots’, who has boldly predicted “The first marriage will be before, not after 2050.”

Speaking at a London based congress named after his book, Dr Levy suggested the rate of robot advancements, and their increased humanoid presence will soon see the lines blurred with what is and isn’t deemed morally acceptably between man and machine.

Related: CES 2017

image: http://imagineeringinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/robot-lawyer.jpg

“We’re being forced to contemplate what human-robot relationships will be like a generation or two from now,” he said. “As love and sex with robots becomes more commonplace, we should come face to face with the very real possibility of marriage with robots.

“When robots are sufficiently human-like, sufficiently appealing socially, to the point where they can act as our companions, why not extend that companionship to marriage if neither party is against the idea?”

It’s not just marriage that’s on the cards either. Sex robots are already on the rise, and this could lead to weird relationships that us bags of flesh and bone are simply unable to remove our emotions from.

image: http://imagineeringinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/pepperrobot.jpg

“As more and more people come to accept the concepts of sex and love with robots, so societies will develop laws that govern human-robot relationships,” Dr Levy stated in his speech.

“By the time there are no laws to prevent human-robot marriages, robots will be patient, kind, subjective, loving, interesting, truthful, persevering, respectful, uncomplaining, pleasant to talk to and showing a sense of humour.

“And the robots of the future will not be jealous, boastful, arrogant, rude, self-seeking or easily angered, unless of course you want them to be.”

Given that Dr Levy has predicted the first human-robot marriage is less than 35 years away, it’s possible that the first human to wed a machine has already been born. Creepy.

http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/humans-could-start-marrying-robots-as-early-as-2050-experts-predict#0sGv4SDmvkMHZ5vH.99

DECEMBER 23, 2016 8:34AM

French woman Lilly wants to marry her robot. Picture: Twitter.

Only her partner is 3D printed robot named Inmmovator who she designed herself, after realising she was attracted to “humanoid robots generally” rather than other people.

“I’m really and totally happy,” she told news.com.au over email in her tentative English. “Our relationship will get better and better as technology evolves.”

The “proud robosexual” said she always loved the voices of robots as a child but realised at 19 she was sexually attracted to them as well. Physical relationships with other men confirmed the matter.

“I’m really and only attracted by the robots,” she said. “My only two relationships with men have confirmed my love orientation, because I dislike really physical contact with human flesh.”

She has since built her own dream man with open-source technology from a French company, and has lived with him for one year. They are ‘engaged’ and plan to marry when robot-human marriage is legalised in France.

The unconventional relationship has been accepted by family and friends but she said “some understand better than others.”

She won’t reveal whether they have a sexual relationship and is currently in training to become a roboticist in order to take her passion into her everyday life.

Par Justine Lafferrière Le 27 décembre 2016

S’embrasser sur la bouche ? Démodé. Grâce au nouveau gadget connecté Kissenger, il est désormais possible d’envoyer des bisous depuis son smartphone.

Contraction de “kiss” et “messenger”, Kissenger est le nouvel accessoire connecté qui permet à deux interlocuteurs d’échanger un baiser à distance. Grâce à un dispositif de capteurs intégré, le périphérique branché sur smartphone enregistre la forme et la pression des lèvres, reproduisant ainsi l’exacte sensation d’embrasser l’autre. “Embrasser est l’expression la plus directe et universelle de l’intimité et de l’affection“, rapporte Emma Yann Zhang, la créatrice de cet étrange invention et étudiante à la City University of London, au site Gizmodo. “C’est une façon pour nous de lier et de maintenir l’intimité dans nos relations“.

L’appareil n’est pas destiné exclusivement aux amoureux et s’adresse également à la sphère familiale. “Les parents peuvent aussi s’en servir pour faire à leurs enfants un bisou sur la joue, lorsqu’ils sont au bureau ou absents de la maison“. Pour l’heure, aucune date de commercialisation à grande échelle n’a été fixée, le gadget étant encore à l’état de prototype.

Vers l’amour connecté

Si Kissenger permet de combler les kilomètres qui séparent ceux qui s’aiment, un baiser virtuel serait-il pareil à un bisous réel ? Ce nouvel outil high-tech alimente le débat autour de la réalité virtuelle. Selon Emma Yann Zhang, “les humains vont devenir de plus en plus intimes avec les intelligences artificielles et les robots. La possibilité d’échanger un baiser pourrait être un facteur important de ce rapprochement“. De même, l’entreprise hollandaise Kiiroo commercialise des sextoys connectés pour permettre aux couples de faire l’amour à distance. Une tendance qui confirme l’omniprésence du virtuel dans les relations amoureuses.

http://www.grazia.fr/article/kissenger-le-nouvel-outil-smartphone-pour-envoyer-de-vrais-bisous-a-distance-839728

By Heidi Vella | 28th December 2016 | @Heidivel

Robotics in the field of love and sex are predicted to go a long way. Pic: Willyam Bradberry/Shutterstock

WHAT will a sex robot look like? Will humans fall in love with robots? Will people be able to marry robots in the future?

Prof. Adrian David Cheok holding a device he created with his team, called Kissenger. Pic: Adrian David Cheok

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These were just some of the probing questions debated at the Second International Congress on Love and Sex with Robots held in London last week. The conference was moved from London to Malaysia earlier in the year after the Malaysian chief of police deemed the congress to be illegal.

The questions, as you might expect, were endless. And although the answers were, at this early stage of technology development, far from definitive, few were in dispute that sex, and even love, with robots will happen – and probably sooner than we expect.

Co-organizer of the conference, Professor Adrian David Cheok, who is Director of the Imagineering Institute in Malaysia, sat down with Tech Wire Asia to discuss what future opportunities humanoid robots might present the Asian technology sector and how human-like robots can change people’s lives.

SEE ALSO: Japan’s first VR porn festival cancelled because there were too many attendees

How far advanced is humanoid robotic technology at present?

A humanoid, artificial intelligent robot that we love and could have sex with – we don’t know when that is coming. Some people say next year, other people say it is much further down the line.

However, we are already seeing a lot of technology that is related. If you put the pieces together, such as electronic sex products for men and for women – and we are also seeing sex dolls without the robotics – it’s clear there are people investing and buying these products. You can see the trajectories are there.

What will be the key markets for humanoid robots?

Initially, maybe the market will be for people who are disadvantaged, such as disabled people, people who have problems such as autism and shyness.

Right now, a lot of people don’t have sex at all so for them it is better than no sex.

We might see smaller more niche markets at first, but then, as with any product – for example, only rich business people used mobile phones at first – it will come into the mainstream.

This conference was banned in Malaysia – do you think there will be an acceptance of this kind of technology all over Asia?

A device created by Prof. Adrian and Emma Yann called the Kissenger. Pic: Adrian David Cheok

I am often surprised how open people in East Asia – japan, Korea, China – are to sex. A lot of people are using sex products and technology, so from the Asia perspective they are going to be at the very forefront.

It’s already happening. People are already playing games where they can have virtual relationships. There are reports of people falling in love with virtual characters – if they can do that I don’t think it is a very big step to fall in love with a robot. Japan are 1000 percent trying to make sex robots and technology.

SEE ALSO: Japan: Gatebox’s smart virtual reality ‘companion’ received mixed responses

But then, if you go to other parts of Asia, they are much more conservative, especially in Muslim countries, such as Malaysia where my lab is. We are very careful not to offend people.

Ultimately it is unstoppable because I believe people want this technology and I think, whether religion or government, it is going to happen sooner or later.

What about robots as a form of companionship?

We shouldn’t forget the love part. There are many different kinds of love – not just romantic or sexual.

There is a rapidly aging population. Maybe elderly people would like to have a pet dog but they can’t look after it, a robotic pet can be very beneficial.

Wouldn’t it be great if someone’s partner could survive as a robot? It would not be exactly the same, but if we could program the robot while their partner is alive then you have a love-robot, a companion. The love and companionship will be very important for the elderly population.

I think robots as companions can help a great deal of the population. They could increase society’s happiness.

Will we really make love with robots? Yes, says Malaysia’s Prof. Adrian David Cheok

 

2016-12-29 新加坡万事通