Me, My Bot and His Other (Robot) Woman? Keeping Your Robot Satisfied in the Age of Artificial Emotion

Abstract

With a backdrop of action and science fiction movie horrors of the dystopian relationship between humans and robots, surprisingly to date-with the exception of ethical discussions-the relationship aspect of humans and sex robots has seemed relatively unproblematic. The attraction to sex robots perhaps is the promise of unproblematic affectionate and sexual interactions, without the need to consider the other's (the robot's) emotions and indeed preference of sexual partners. Yet, with rapid advancements in information technology and robotics, particularly in relation to artificial intelligence and indeed, artificial emotions, there almost seems the likelihood, that sometime in the future, robots too, may love others in return. Who those others are-whether human or robot-is to be speculated. As with the laws of emotion, and particularly that of the cognitive-emotional theory on Appraisal, a reality in which robots experience their own emotions, may not be as rosy as would be expected.

Design, Use, and Effects of Sex Dolls and Sex Robots: Scoping Review

“…However, the concept of an advanced sex robot that is almost indistinguishable from a real human paradoxically makes it seem pointless to build sex robots. If the advanced sex robot acts like a self-determined, willful human, if it consequently lies, cheats, criticizes, disregards, rejects, and leaves the human, what is the merit of creating it in the first place [ 87 , 92 , 95 , 96 ]?…”

Human–Robot Interaction and Sexbots: A Systematic Literature Review

“…Some authors tried to understand the implications of introducing emotions into robotic machinery [19]. In the future, robots can experience emotionally and sexually satisfying partnerships; perhaps the emphasis should be once again placed on humans.…”

Subject (in) Trouble: Humans, Robots, and Legal Imagination

“…This duty derives from the projection that humans-a certain anthropological conception of humans-will want to feel that the love they have for sexbots is reciprocal and unique; and that sexbots "will possess the autonomy to choose whether to love us or not, self-awareness and subjectivity" (Mackenzie 2018, p. 74). Rousi (2018), drawing on a hypothetical future scenario in which robots actually possess their own emotions, and the ability to love, adds a dilemma (a simultaneous fear and fascination known as the Frankenstein Syndrome): what if, in that speculative plan, robots "have the right to express their own free will and exercise their powers of life and love partner selection" (Rousi 2018, p. 45) and prefer other robots over humans? "[ .…”