Robot brothels, similar to those depicted in Channel 4's science-fiction drama Humans, could soon become a reality in the UK, according to an academic who has studied the intersection of technology and society.
Professor John Danaher, a law lecturer at NUI Galway, said that rapid improvements in technology could transform the British sex industry, potentially reducing the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and offering safer working conditions for sex workers, clients and pimps alike.
In comments to the Daily Star, Professor Danaher argued that sex robots could act as a viable substitute for human prostitutes. He said the machines could cater for a desire for sexual variety, freedom from constraint and complication, and fear of a lack of sexual success. He added that technology might become better at developing emotional bonds with clients, and that robots would not need to 'fake it' in the same way human prostitutes do.
The professor also suggested that robot brothels, which he described as 'completely legal', could help stamp out sexual slavery and trafficking, as robotic alternatives would likely be cheaper than employing humans.
Meanwhile, Matt McMullen, chief executive of the sex doll company RealDoll, has revealed that his firm is developing an artificial intelligence system that could be connected to a robotic doll or experienced in a virtual reality environment. He said the technology would offer an option that has never existed before and, for some users, might represent a happiness they never thought they could have.
Although robot brothels remain in their early stages, it is believed that sex tourism hotspots such as Amsterdam's red light district and Thailand could adopt the technology in large numbers. Human-robot sex is predicted to become more common within the next decade, with many people saying they would happily have sex with a robot instead of a human.
