Futurologists predict AI sexbots will replace human relationships
SexTech is touted to become a $3.3 billion industry by 2033.
interestingengineering.com
Futurologists predict AI sexbots will replace human relationships
SexTech is touted to become a $3.3 billion industry by 2033.Sejal Sharma
Published: Oct 18, 2023 09:17 AM EST
CULTURE
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Stock photo.
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In an overly connected world, most people sitting in a cafe would rather scroll through 30 TikTok videos whilst having their coffee than strike up a casual conversation with the person sitting next to their table. And this scenario is not just limited to public spaces, but even inside our homes.
In an ironic turn of events, the technology which is supposed to make us more connected has drawn a communication wedge between us. According to a 2018 Nielsen report, American adults spend over 11 hours per day listening to, watching, reading or generally interacting with media. That's a little less than half a day.
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Further widening the human-to-human connectivity gap are new-age AI technologies like ChatGPT which has the capability of holding a human-like conversation. As it turns out, we don’t need a human being if we want to interact with someone, and futurologists predict that soon enough, humans might not even need other humans to have sexual intercourse.
AI a big driving factor for SexTech
SexTech is evolving at a rapid speed. It’s estimated that the sextech and sexual wellness market will reach a valuation of nearly $3.3 billion by 2033. It is currently valued at around $576.5 million.From phone sex to sex robots, SexTech has come a long way. And looking at how generative AI is radically altering and enhancing the way we interact with environments around us, we have entered an age of readily available AI girlfriends and AI sexbots. Given the pace at which AI is evolving, it is only a matter of time before someone creates a very realistic sexbot.
In fact, in 2019, a company invented a sex robot with chest cavities to mimic the way a real human breathes, so that the robot does not appear insentient. Ian Pearons, a futurologist predicted that by 2050, we will see robot sex overtaking human-to-human sex.
Building on Pearson’s argument, another futurologist Tracey Follows said, “In Japan, a large number of young men already prefer to have relationships with their digital assistants, avatars or holographic girlfriends, instead of dealing with the complexity of real-life relationships. And this trend is increasing."
Follows further explained in the interview that relationships between humans and AI will soon enough be the accepted norm under the banner of 'inclusion.'
Will AI sexbots replace human sex?
But it’s not just futurologists saying it, almost half of the American adult population expect that within approximately 40 years, having sex with robots will be common practice.Interesting Engineering reported recently that a former senior executive at Google claimed that AI encounters will become as satisfactory as real-life interactions and that AI-powered sex robots may soon replace human partners.
But Gawdat’s claim has been refuted by prior studies. For example, a 2018 study from the UK said that sex robots won't solve feelings of loneliness. “It remains unproven that intimacy ‘needs’ will be satisfied: there could be worsened distress. While a human may genuinely desire a sexbot, reciprocation can only be artificially mimicked,” noted the researchers of the study.
Ultra realistic deep fakes are also a cause of worry. Everyone from the protesting actors guild union to Tom Hanks want some kind of regulation on how this technology can be used and what the stakeholders are doing to protect people.
“I imagine deep fake porn will continue to grow and will be very difficult to regulate, so if you want to have sex with your favorite Kardashian, you can. All it takes is some photos or videos and an artificial intelligence platform to have sex with your next-door neighbor. The psychological effects of this, both on the user and the one being used, can be truly dark,” added Follows.
