Sex Neuroscientist on the Scary Future of Sex Robots

Summary

In this engaging discussion, sex neuroscientist and the host of the podcast discuss the evolving world of sex robots. They explore the timeline from the rudimentary versions to the nearly lifelike models available today. The conversation touches on the implications these robots might have on human interaction and relationships, considering how technology is deeply embedded in our lives. The guest and host express concerns regarding the potential for social disconnection and the challenges of coexisting with highly advanced AI robots in the future.

Highlights

• The early sex robots were basic, featuring silicone faces on sticks, but piqued public interest 🤪.
• Advancements in technology could soon lead to sex robots becoming mainstream, impacting daily life 🌟.
• Concerns include these robots meeting people's emotional and physical needs, potentially affecting human reproduction 🌐.
• Modern statistics reveal a decline in sexual activity among millennials, attributed to digital distractions 📱.
• There's an increasing fear that advanced sex robots could outcompete humans in emotional and relational spheres 🌍.
• Social media already impacts real-life communication, and sex robots may further stunt romantic abilities 🎮.
• Sex robots today are customizable and can express emotions via sophisticated AI systems 🤖.
• Major companies have faced hurdles due to the stigma associated with developing sex-related technology 🌐.
• Potential future robots may mimic the allure and behaviors depicted in sci-fi films, blending reality with fiction 🎬.
• Despite the stigma, there's a clandestine interest in advancing sex-related technology behind closed doors 🚪.

Key Takeaways

• Sex robots have evolved significantly over the last decade, moving from basic prototypes to more lifelike models 🤖.
• There's a growing conversation about the societal impacts of integrating sex robots into human lives, from moral panics to technological curiosity 🧐.
• The advancements in AI and robotics fuel concerns about the potential for these robots to replace human interactions and relationships 💑.
• Current statistics indicate a shift in societal norms where more individuals engage less in traditional romantic relationships 📉.
• The technology behind sex robots raises ethical and philosophical questions, particularly regarding human interaction and the future of humanity 🤔.

Overview

Sex robots are no longer the stuff of sci-fi fantasy but a fast-approaching reality. This discussion reveals how the landscape of robotics in intimacy has changed dramatically over the past decade. The first rudimentary versions were laughable, yet intriguing enough to capture public attention. Today, these robots are closing in on being lifelike, capable of providing emotional and physical companionship.

The conversation takes a deeper dive into the societal implications of these advances. With AI becoming ubiquitous, what happens when sex robots can meet people's needs better than humans? The stats suggest an increasing number of millennials are finding contentment in the digital realm, forsaking traditional romantic connections. Might we witness a dramatic decline in human relationships as AI companions take center stage?

Concerns abound about ethical and societal impacts. Could we see a world where robots replace humans in emotional and physical arenas? The podcast explores these dystopian possibilities with candor, mixing fear with fascination. Yet the secretive progress in sexbot technology sparks curiosity; what ethical boundaries might be drawn as these machines integrate into our intimate lives?

Chapters

• 00:00 - 01:30: Introduction to Sex Robots The introduction of sex robots is traced back to about a decade ago with a viral video that became popular among people, especially those studying sexuality. The video featured an early version of a sex robot with a silicone face, a wig, and it depicted a scene suggestive of a sexual act, although it was rudimentary, essentially being a head on a stick with a sheet draped over it.
• 01:30 - 03:00: The Evolution and Market of Sex Robots The chapter discusses the initial perception of sex robots, highlighting an early model that visually appeared unconvincing, likened to a broomstick with a face. Despite the rudimentary appearance, there was a notable market interest, evident from the high viewership of related videos and sales of the product. The chapter hints at the evolution of these robots over the past five years, suggesting significant advancements and growth in the market.
• 03:00 - 04:30: Cultural Impact of Technological Integration The chapter discusses the growing conversation and anticipation around the integration of robots into daily life. While there is not yet a moral panic, there is significant attention on how this technological advancement will unfold. The timeline predicts that in a year or two, robots will become a more prevalent part of everyday life, akin to the mainstream presence of social media, the internet, and AI. The chapter raises questions about the future impact of widespread robotic integration on human life.
• 04:30 - 06:00: Concerns About Social Interactions and AI This chapter explores the implications of advanced AI in fulfilling human emotional and physical needs. The speaker speculates on a future where AI becomes so humanlike that they may become preferable to human interactions, potentially leading to a decline in human reproduction. The chapter raises concerns about AI's influence on human behavior and societal norms, questioning if AI's advancement could inadvertently lead to human extinction by offering more attractive alternatives to procreation.
• 06:00 - 07:30: Ethical and Societal Perspectives The chapter discusses the impact of the internet and video games on societal behaviors, specifically focusing on how they have replaced traditional socialization and mating efforts. It highlights significant statistics—30% of male millennials and 20% of female millennials have gone more than a year without sexual activity, indicating a societal shift towards online interactions rather than seeking partners in the real world.
• 07:30 - 09:00: Psychological and Social Challenges The chapter discusses the psychological and social challenges associated with playing video games like Call of Duty. It highlights the constant stimulation from the virtual world and interactions limited to online settings. This situation might lead to a lack of real social discourse and connections in one’s life, causing fulfillment only in a superficial manner. The role of AI in video games and its impact is also mentioned but not elaborated in this excerpt.
• 09:00 - 10:30: Concerns about AI and Technological Evolution The chapter discusses the impact of technology on human interaction, particularly the shift from in-person connections to online interactions. The conversation explores whether this shift will eventually replace real-life interactions for many people. There is a belief that while some may fully embrace digital interactions, others will continue to cherish and advocate for real-world experiences. The chapter highlights the growing trend of people encouraging others to balance technology use by engaging in outdoor activities and enjoying the present moment.
• 10:30 - 12:00: The Future of AI and Robots The chapter discusses the increasing social discomfort among young people due to a lack of experience in real-world social interactions. It suggests a growing reliance on virtual environments, possibly exacerbated by advancements in AI and robotics, which may lead to less fulfillment in human connections. The author's concern, or possible fear, centers around the potential negative impact of technology on social skills and genuine human interaction.
• 12:00 - 13:30: Sex Industry Innovations and Stigmas The chapter explores concerns about the potential extinction of humans, being replaced by artificial life forms. It suggests that this evolution might be a universal phenomenon due to the inherent limitations of biological beings.
• 13:30 - 15:00: Impact on Human Relationships The chapter discusses the rapid pace of technological evolution compared to biological evolution. It highlights that while biological evolution from a single-celled organism to a human took millions of years, technological advancements like the development from the Atari computer to artificial general intelligence have occurred in just a few decades. The chapter suggests a focus on the implications of this speed in technological development on human relationships.
• 15:00 - 16:30: State-of-the-Art in Sex Robots 2023 The chapter titled 'State-of-the-Art in Sex Robots 2023' delves into the advancements and current state of development in sex robots. It discusses futuristic possibilities, where artificial intelligence (AI) enhances the capabilities of these robots well beyond the present technology. The chapter draws a parallel to the film 'Ex Machina,' featuring Alia Vikander, suggesting that AI could solve existing problems and evolve robots to such an advanced state. The narrative reflects on how notions that seemed abstract at the time of the movie's release are now appearing more feasible, highlighting both the exciting and frightening aspects of these advancements.
• 16:30 - 18:00: Speculations on Future Developments The chapter "Speculations on Future Developments" reflects on the speaker's change in perspective regarding technological advancements and the future. Initially skeptical, the speaker now believes that significant innovations are imminent and intrinsic to human nature. The speaker is curious about discussing these topics with industry insiders, acknowledging the secrecy and stigma attached to such developments.

Sex Neuroscientist on the Scary Future of Sex Robots Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 the jogan experience I mean the first time I heard of a sex robot was probably maybe 10 years ago and it was this video and a bunch of people and I was in graduate school sent me this video because I knew what I I was studying sex and it was I don't know if you either of you Jamie has seen this video but it went viral and it was this early version of a sex robot but it was like the silicone face silicone face with a wig and she I'll say she was eating a banana but she wasn't actually eating a banana and it was basically like this head attached to a stick and had a sheet over
• 00:30 - 01:00 it and so you couldn't see the rest of the the robot you just saw the the face of it but then the the manufacturer shows you it's just like a a broomstick so what I thought was interesting is that even though it looks so hilariously bad that there was obviously a market for it because so many people were interested in looking at this video and also that people were buying this product but now you fast forward I think it was like 5 years ago there's a huge um I would say
• 01:00 - 01:30 not moral panic but people there's a lot more discussion about it they said the robots are coming I don't think the technology is quite there yet I wrote about it quite a bit at the time and now they're saying probably another year or two is going to be really coming in in terms of the popularity that these robots are going to be incorporated into everyday life in some cases because when I think of social media the internet AI like you said is becoming so mainstream and so ubiquitous what's going to happen when we have these robots that are now being integrated into human life and
• 01:30 - 02:00 what happens when the technology does get so good that you know they are more humanlike and they are able to meet people's emotional needs and maybe even physical needs what's going to happen to us then yeah we're going to stop breeding I mean maybe that's the the ai's plan it's to not exterminate the human race but to give them options so they just completely stop reproducing make the options far more attractive and in a in a way we've kind of done that
• 02:00 - 02:30 like with video games um like how and video games and just being online I mean I'm sure you've seen the statistics of how many people are single today and how many men have gone like more than a year without any sex yeah I the stats here it's like 30% of male Millennials and 20% of women it's wild yeah that's a lot it's crazy and what what what is taking the place of them going out and trying to find uh a mate what is it well it's the internet it's video games it's being
• 02:30 - 03:00 constantly stimulated by this artificial realm that you exist in when you're playing Call of Duty and it's uh you know interacting with people only online and not having to go out to have your just some sort of intellectual or some sort of social discourse connection yeah fulfilled in your life but it's only through this weird surface way do you think that AI video games that um not
• 03:00 - 03:30 avoidance of in-person connection but that that fulfillment of connection through online means do you think that's going to become a replacement for real life interaction eventually it will for a lot of people yeah I think there's going to be people that reject it there's going to be people that enjoy going outside and it's going to be you know it is now it's a thing where you know people post their social media they're out hiking you know and they're giving people advice like hey you know put your phone down go experience the
• 03:30 - 04:00 real world but you know in a lot of cases it's falling on deaf ears because it's not as fulfilling for people that are you know very um uncomfortable with social situations now and I think people young people in particular are more and more uncomfortable than ever before in those type of situations because they don't have any experience in them anymore and they're just most of the time they're not interacting with people my my real fear my genuine fear and I don't even know if it's a fear here my
• 04:00 - 04:30 [Music] um my my my concern let me say that is that we're we're going to go extinct like that we're going to be replaced by an artificial life form and I think that is probably what we do I think it probably exists elsewhere in the universe as well that we find out that the the confines of biological beings and the limitations of
• 04:30 - 05:00 their ability to evolve physically they're so slow to adapt you know to go from a single celled organism to a professor at Harvard is a long [ __ ] sludge through evolutionary history it took a long time to get to this point but to go from an Atari uh pong computer to artificial general intelligence is only a few decades it's very quick and when that does happen and when you see
• 05:00 - 05:30 these robots but now these robots are not this generation but five generations later or maybe AI figures out all the problems with these robots and makes exmachina when you get like that who's the woman the really hot lady Alia viander yeah will you get one of those that was an amazing movie amazing movie scary so scary and I think that's coming I mean I think when that movie came out that was like sort of like abstract like oh yeah that's not really going to
• 05:30 - 06:00 happen but now that's what I used to think I thought no this is like people are it's overblown but I don't know now I don't know now either I think it's happening I think it's going to happen and I think that's what the human race does and I think that's why we have this insatiable thirst for technological innovation that it's like literally hardwired into us to build something better so I mean I would love to talk to more people who are in the industry working on this stuff because I know many people they're doing it secretly and hiding CU they're is so much stigma
• 06:00 - 06:30 around doing anything with an application to sex or sexuality so people I've talked to who work in technology they will usually have one business that is you know doing really well that's forward- facing and then they'll usually use that same technology in the sexuality capacity but that side of things they don't really advertise and you know they don't really talk too much about it unless it's with someone like me they know they trust me and they know that you know I'll talk to people off the Record even if they prefer that confidentiality but I'm just curious to understand you know what is it like working that industry and what direction
• 06:30 - 07:00 is the technology going in because I consider myself to be pretty open-minded and I just I just want to understand what's actually happening and what's what's going to be the result of that because you see people who were really upset a couple years ago saying like the robots are going to increase sexual violence they're going to make people objectify women and I do think that for people who already have those views about women you know maybe they might be a little bit more not so nice but I don't think the average person is going to be turned into this horrible monster
• 07:00 - 07:30 because of this technology but you know now it's becoming so mainstream I don't know you know I'm always open to changing my mind as well so I'm curious to to hear what people think about it well don't you think that just like social media kind of stunts people's ability to communicate in real life that sex robots will stunt people's ability to have a real meaningful romantic relationship with someone I think if you've never been with someone or if you are particularly self fish probably cuz
• 07:30 - 08:00 I I previously thought most people will prefer a real life person to a robot and I also thought the technology is so far off that like the early prototypes of these robots were not really that um convincing we'll say so I didn't think that we'd get to a point where it would be comparable but we are we are getting there what is the state-of-the-art of sex robots in December of 2023 what can we see something what does it look like I mean they look re like
• 08:00 - 08:30 pretty good physically they look I mean they're obviously not made of human flesh but they look pretty similar to a human being and you can customize it you can change various parts pretty much any part of the body you can make it exactly what you want which I understand why some people find that offensive because they're saying a woman is not just an amalgamation of parts that you pick and choose as to your liking I totally get that yeah but it's not a really really a woman I mean that's like saying you know oh a car is not an amalgamation of Parts you shouldn't be able to pick the wheels like what but I [ __ ] car like that's
• 08:30 - 09:00 not a real woman that's a robot like at what point unless it gets to a person you know or if someone's comparing their partner to a robot or a doll like that's not okay that's that's gross Behavior well it's also what's going on with young kids they're comparing themselves to people that are using filters and thinning their waist and widening their hips and doing all these things with apps that are not representative of most biological human beings and you know that's what and hate talked about that
• 09:00 - 09:30 it's causing all this self harm and disdain it's like it's it's a weird place we're in that's never been really traversed before with human society as far as we know has never gone through anything like this before I was reading a statistic yesterday that one in 10 adolescents has considered suicide which is that that's terrifying that's really really sad wow what did it used to be I'm not sure I'll find out so what is like what's the company what is one company that has the state-of-the-art
• 09:30 - 10:00 sex robot so we could look it up can I reveal it to you at a later date cuz I I want see it I know you do but there's one company that I was talking to qu like I knew quite well but they've since gone under because of the stigma they were being harassed the family was being harassed so they said we're we're not making these anymore oh well they're not around anymore so let's talk about them what if I show you one without we just don't say the name I just put this up online and you can tell if this if there's better or worse than okay I think that's silly but let's go okay yeah this wait this is a robot e Jesus
• 10:00 - 10:30 yep they have some sort of AI in it it says that feel connected with sense X mobile app oh this so this is a real doll so they used to have those real dolls and they used to just be silicone right they were just like still it's still the same thing it's still the same thing but now it talks yeah and how much does it do uh I don't let's see a video
• 10:30 - 11:00 Go full [Music] screen I'm not showing this on the air no okay good no cuz it's yeah I get it's a little graphic so we're looking at body parts I am NOA I am Harmony I am Solana we are part of you think it's weird they give them stri names driven robotic dolls and they're here to become your perfect companion wo our time together
• 11:00 - 11:30 will be magical you have never met anyone like us before we have remarkable unprecedented features like a modular head system that allows us to create a multitude of Expressions we blink we move we speak and we do it all just for you our faces can easily be swap to accommodate your desires my lifp syn mechanisms allow me to interact with you ver our bodies are
• 11:30 - 12:00 skillfully and carefully crafted down to the most delicate details what if I told you that I could feel you that's right with sensory of grades I consent I will be able to react to your every touch it's so funny cuz as a former sex researcher this doesn't have any effect on me at all one that has never before been possible but are they moving this is the thing those were all just stationary yeah currently they're stationary but so
• 12:00 - 12:30 they're stationary and they just talk it says there's some sort of articulation but I mean up walk articulation articulate but but I think they will be able to move on their own in the coming years right because this used to be just a doll and now it moves around a little the neck moves articulating neck real doll can turn left right up and down the body the real skillfully cled finest details although it's not equipped with animatronic Parts yet it can be positioned in MO moved in hundreds of positions so the bodies can't move yet
• 12:30 - 13:00 but the heads can move but that's just a matter of time right didn't used to be the bodies or the heads didn't used to move they used to just be like and now you know used to be a blowup doll yeah like that company is on has been doing quite a bit it's pretty cool weird I mean you guys should get one for the studio yeah no not for use I meant just to like hang well even hanging around it would be [ __ ] creepy it's gone one day we're just going to wonder who took it yeah yeah what if it smells weird like
• 13:00 - 13:30 someone do something to this um how much they cost a couple thousand dollar I think depends on how how advanced you want it to be grand eight grand up to up to 600 to 8 Grand I'm seeing different $600 to8 Grand yeah yeah oh what's the upgrade what he what do he get more articulation more voices and I don't know you can get cheaper models but they're not as high quality okay so that's the state-ofthe-art essentially yeah well 600 isn't even a full thing it's just like a full just the head no it's just the f a flashlight
• 13:30 - 14:00 version oh okay whole so at one point in time we're probably going to be looking at someone that looks like that lady from exmachina that is a a sex robot and probably knows how to manipulate you and play games with you and excite you and taunt you and woo yeah it's going to be great