Host in the machine

Researchers in New Zealand have submitted a paper which says that by 2050, the sex industry will have become almost completely robotised. The reason for this, they report, is because by that time, robots would be so intuitively programmable and so human-like in appearance, function and personality that most people would have no problem interacting with them.

Besides the fact that it would result in a dramatic drop in sexually-transmitted diseases and worldwide human trafficking, the researchers go on to state that future brothels comprising android sex workers would also ensure a totally guilt-free sexual experience. Or, as one of them told the media, "Clients will feel no guilt as they actually haven't had sex with a real person and, therefore, don't have to lie to their partners."

Is this merely male wishful thinking or a case of macho morals taking a serious nosedive? How, for instance, is a person's partner going to react when he tells her, "Honey, I've just had sex with Xena, but there's nothing to worry about because Xena's just a machine. Never mind that she's physically perfect which you aren't, because it's not as if I don't love your imperfections any more or that our relationship is on the rocks now." Any self-respecting partner is going to walk out.

It's a fact that a lot of our mores will have to be modified when dealing with such advanced robots in our midst, but that doesn't necessarily mean our morality will go out of the window. Morals, when they exist, reside within one's self - independent and irrespective of who or what the other entity may be.