December 2, 2008 Special Issue

Just a love machine

Human-robot relationships to conquer the bedroom and beyond by 2035

by Johnny North

Humans and robots having sex.
GRAPHIC Ginger Coons

Imagine a world where your sexual partner never says no, never breaks your heart, never gets bored of you and has the sexual energy to have sex for days. One catch—these partners are made of cables, metal and computer chips.

Whether you want to believe it or not, relationships with robots has matured over the years. Science fiction films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey and I, Robot might scare us away from the possibility of robots being anything more than lifeless service boxes, but if you take a closer look at society, we’ve already come to depend on machines emotionally.

David Levy’s Love and Sex with Robots: The Evolution of Human-Robot Relationships is a conversational yet eye-opening read on how the evolution of technology and the desire for new, or any sexual experience at all, is pushing humans and robots closer together.

Levy, who is married, is a recognized expert on artificial intelligence and the president of the International Computer Games Association. He divided his book into two sections: the notion of love with robots and the reality of sex with robots.

By listing 10 different ways humans fall in love, Levy is able to identify the relationships humans have already established with robots. Levy also explains how anthropomorphism—giving human characteristics to objects—has made it possible for people to have strong feelings even for non-humans.

The introduction of Sony’s AIBO, Furby and Tamagotchi—all artificially intelligent pets—was not only a hit with children, but also fascinated adults with the possibility of how far AI can go. Levy believes that at least by 2035, AI will be developed to a point where marriage with robots will be possible. Legislation for robots will be a problem that will have to be dealt with, though.

Levy admits that suggesting human-robot relations might seem far-fetched and “even impossible,” but there was a time when many thought the idea of masturbation, homosexuality and the use of vibrators was unheard of or taboo.

Levy comes off as an expert when it comes to AI, but his idea of love lacks the same passion he displays with AI. The idea of how men and women will act differently towards a robot relationship is difficult to believe when there are only numbers, stats and Freud to go on. Levy does add his own thoughts, but lacks a female perspective.

The second section of the book is easily the most exciting read—sex toys, prostitution, differences of male and female sex habits and the role of cybersex helps show that, “Technology has allowed people who may have felt repressed, guilty, unimaginative or just basically sheltered, a way to express their sexuality without boundaries and to explore different sexual worlds.”

Levy does not believe everyone will abandon his or her human partners in exchange for a robot one, but believes most people will open their minds to believe it to be ethical and healthy for those wishing to add a little spice to their current human-human relationship.

For some of us, it’s the only chance to ever get laid.

For more info check out:
http://browseinside.harpercollins.ca/index.aspx?isbn13=9780061359804