On the Very Idea of Sex with Robots

Migotti, Mark; Wyatt, Nicole

doi:10.7551/mitpress/9780262036689.003.0002

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…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 ]?…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Döring¹,

Mohseni²,

Walter³

2020

J Med Internet Res

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Background Although sex toys representing human body parts are widely accepted and normalized, human-like full-body sex dolls and sex robots have elicited highly controversial debates. Objective This systematic scoping review of the academic literature on sex dolls and sex robots, the first of its kind, aimed to examine the extent and type of existing academic knowledge and to identify research gaps against this backdrop. Methods A comprehensive multidisciplinary, multidatabase search strategy was used. All steps of literature search and selection, data charting, and synthesis followed the leading methodological guideline, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. A total of 29 (17 peer reviewed) and 98 publications (32 peer reviewed) for sex dolls and sex robots, respectively, from 1993 to 2019 were included. Results According to the topics and methodologies, the sex doll and sex robot publications were divided into 5 and 6 groups, respectively. The majority of publications were theoretical papers. Thus far, no observational or experimental research exists that uses actual sex dolls or sex robots as stimulus material. Conclusions There is a need to improve the theoretical elaboration and the scope and depth of empirical research examining the sexual uses of human-like full-body material artifacts, particularly concerning not only risks but also opportunities for sexual and social well-being.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Döring¹,

Mohseni²,

Walter³

2020

J Med Internet Res

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“…Notably, however, the degree of agency of levels 0–2 technologies has led them to be categorized and treated, by most, as somewhat passive objects or media. Yet, the line between patient and agent is becoming increasingly blurred as we move towards systems capable of more complex (erotic) interaction, learning, and adaptation [ 72 , 73 , 145 , 178 , 203 , 220 , 256 , 291 ].…”

Section: Towards Eroboticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foundations of Erobotics

Dubé

Anctil

2020

Int J of Soc Robotics

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Technology is giving rise to artificial erotic agents, which we call erobots ( erôs + bot). Erobots, such as virtual or augmented partners, erotic chatbots, and sex robots, increasingly expose humans to the possibility of intimacy and sexuality with artificial agents. Their advent has sparked academic and public debates: some denounce their risks (e.g., promotion of harmful sociosexual norms), while others defend their potential benefits (e.g., health, education, and research applications). Yet, the scientific study of human–machine erotic interaction is limited; no comprehensive theoretical models have been proposed and the empirical literature remains scarce. The current research programs investigating erotic technologies tend to focus on the risks and benefits of erobots, rather than providing solutions to resolve the former and enhance the latter. Moreover, we feel that these programs underestimate how humans and machines unpredictably interact and co-evolve, as well as the influence of sociocultural processes on technological development and meaning attribution. To comprehensively explore human–machine erotic interaction and co-evolution, we argue that we need a new unified transdisciplinary field of research—grounded in sexuality and technology positive frameworks—focusing on human-erobot interaction and co-evolution as well as guiding the development of beneficial erotic machines. We call this field Erobotics . As a first contribution to this new discipline, this article defines Erobotics and its related concepts; proposes a model of human-erobot interaction and co-evolution; and suggests a path to design beneficial erotic machines that could mitigate risks and enhance human well-being.

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“…If sex is understood as a sexual exchange with another person (whether it be vaginal, oral, anal or manual) that requires "shared sexual agency"-a sort of back and forth, sharing, or mutual awareness-then masturbation is not sex (Migotti & Wyatt, 2017, p. 20). Indeed, most people do not consider masturbation to be sex, and doing so has brought up interesting considerations as to whether masturbation-if sex-is also then homosexual and incestuous sex (Migotti & Wyatt, 2017). If we accept that masturbation is not sex, then masturbation with a toy, no matter how fantastical or advanced, remains masturbation.…”

Section: Categorizing Robot Sexmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If we accept that masturbation is not sex, then masturbation with a toy, no matter how fantastical or advanced, remains masturbation. For some, robot sex can only be considered as "sex" in the way that we understand it if the robot has the ability to exercise sexual agency, which requires sentience (Migotti & Wyatt, 2017). Under this view, until sex robots are sentient, the ethical questions of human sex such as consent and infidelity are inapplicable (Migotti & Wyatt, 2017).…”

Section: Categorizing Robot Sexmentioning

confidence: 99%

New Technology, Same Old Stigma: An Analysis of Feminist Discourses and Sex Work Stigma in Sex Robot Media

DiTecco¹

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Scholars have theorized the technological displacement of sex workers at the hands of sex robots, but none have addressed how sex robot representations could contribute to sex work stigma. Using critical discourse analysis and sex positive theories, this thesis seeks to address this gap by analyzing the production of knowledge in the emerging field of sex robots.Specifically, this study analyzes sex robot representations in academic literature and online news articles to critically consider how prevailing discourses may impact sex and gender norms and sex work stigma. My analysis revealed that through their construction as sex work, sex robot representations reproduce problematic sex and gender norms, radical feminist discourses, and stigmatize sex workers and sex work clients. Furthermore, sex workers, sex work clients, and sex robot/doll users were found to be underrepresented in these conversations. This research demonstrates the need for more inclusive and destigmatizing sex robot representations.

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On the Very Idea of Sex with Robots

Cited by 12 publications

References 0 publications

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

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

Foundations of Erobotics

New Technology, Same Old Stigma: An Analysis of Feminist Discourses and Sex Work Stigma in Sex Robot Media

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