The sex robot soon reaches the reality, what is the task for realization?

movies"Her / one in the world"Or"Aku Makina"A story about human beings fell in love with artificial intelligence (AI) was drawn. As not only in the movie but realistically, realization of a sex robot equipped with AI is coming closer, columnistRose EvelethHe is contributing to the BBC Future.

Episode 02: Love At First Bot | Flash Forward
http://www.flashforwardpod.com/2016/02/09/episode-02-love-at-first-bot/

BBC - Future - The truth about sex robots
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160209-the-truth-about-sex-robots


Artificial intelligence technology is progressing with age, according to Rose Eveleth, "There are many researchers claiming that robots for sex are becoming realistic". For example, experts on computer chess and AIDavid LevyMr. Sato's autobiographyLove and Sex with Robots"In mid-2050, marriage between humans and robots will be generalized," he says.

Sex toys that are already connected to smartphone applications to give a sense close to real sex acts, and vibrators that can be freely programmable and remotely controlled have appeared. Shelly Ronen, a researcher of human relationships and sexual intercourse at New York University, said, "Using adult products on the market allows a very realistic pseudo experience, compared to sexual activity with human partners That's easy to control. " But Eveleth predicts that designing and manufacturing robots for sex will be far more difficult than ordinary people can imagine.

According to Eveleth, the definition of a sex robot is "not a mere instrument, but a humanoid robot designed for sexual intercourse, but also equipped with artificial intelligence that can" think "in addition to simply reacting the sensor I am doing ". Mr. Eveleth estimates that he is closest to a sex robot is a sex doll sold by California company Abyss Creations "Real Doll"is. It looks very similar to human beings and it is possible to customize the appearance features such as skin color and hooks. The more doctors specialized in Real Doll, the more we are building fans little by little. However, the price is considerably high, with 5000 dollars (about 570,000 yen) to 10,000 dollars (about 114 million yen).

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Eveleth evaluates that "Real Doll is not a sex robot, it is just a doll." Mr. Eveleth thinks "real sex robot" to move eyes, respond to facial expressions, take actions the user likes according to the user's gaze. It also has the ability to learn the strength and power strength the user most felt, repeat several questions between sexual acts, as well as perform emotional acts like human sex partners, It is neither a doll nor a tool, it is much more complex and promising, "Eveleth says.

Eveleth raises the following technologies as to what is necessary to realize the sex robot.

◆ Independent robot
The sex doll and humanoid robot currently on sale is very heavy, for example Real Doll has about 47 kilograms, and it can not stand on its own because of its own weight. Sex robots are not only self-sustaining, they also need to move around and move arms freely. Eveleth said, "The robot technology industry is currently focusing on the development of robots managing the smooth movements of humans," he says he hopes for future technological progress.

◆ Texture of the skin
"If you've used silicone products you will know that it is a different tactile sensation from human skin, and tremendous effort is needed to keep the silicon clean," Eveleth said. It is very difficult to reproduce the texture and feel of human skin, flexibility, extensibility and hue using artificial materials including silicon. In October 2015, a research group at Stanford University "developed a pressure-sensitive artificial skin"AnnouncementAlthough it does not have the temperature sensing function like the human skin yet, the stretchability and tactile sensation are also very different from the actual human skin.

ByGabriel S. Delgado C.

◆ Artificial Intelligence
In recent years artificial intelligence has significantly improved development speed. However, artificial intelligence can not think about itself on emotional expressions deeply involved in sex and human relations. Eveleth said, "The process by which artificial intelligence thinks about sex is not like winning humans in chess, but rather resembles dance, and each one must anticipate each other's movements and respond quickly. I think that artificial intelligence and natural language understanding will take a long time to work in the same way as human beings. "

◆ Eerie Valley
"Eerie valley"Is a concept in robot engineering, a phenomenon that humans hate aversion at a certain point when moving a robot closer to humans. State-of-the-art imitating nature's creaturesAnimatronicsEven robots have not been able to overcome the eerie valley. Science fiction writer Madeline Ashby predicts, "It will be difficult to make the initial sex robot perfectly close to a human-like appearance", "Early sex robots predict the appearance of the face and body as animation and games I think that I will overcome the eerie valley phenomenon by making it like a character of the character. "

Groups that are engaged in technological development for achieving sex robots as described above exist individually, but to gather all the technologies it is necessary to organize a huge team, engineers, robot engineers , Sex toy designer, computer scientist and so on.

In addition, there are many problems that must be solved in parallel with sex robot development, such as financing, laws, cultural problems. Especially discussion on cultural issues is extremely complicated and there is a claim that "sex robot deprives the work of people engaged in sex business industry" and "the sex robot can leave job of sex customs to robot by appearance of sex robot The claim that there is security is confrontation from the top. As money issue, there are hurdles such as banks not financing funds for adult product development, credit card company refuses to process cards, payment processing service premiums commissions about.

However, Eveleth insists that "sex robot will soon be a reality from nowhere." Ronen of New York University said, "The result of technological progress suddenly appears before our eyes.In reality, technicians are increasing more and more, but the speed of technology development gently becomes slower But when the sex robot becomes a reality thing, sex robots will be less discomforting becoming partners of sex, such as doing sex with partners over computer. " It is.