24th June 2018 Benefits of sex robots remain unproven There is little or no evidence that sex robots could provide health or other societal benefits. In the future, these machines could actually worsen sexual violence and other problems, according to a report published by the BMJ.
The current marketing health claims made for 'sexbots' – lifelike robots specifically created for sexual gratification – are misleading as there is no good evidence to back them up, suggest experts writing in BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health. The sex technology industry is already worth US$30 billion, and sexbots are predicted to boost that figure. Four companies now sell adult sexbots priced between US$5,000 and US$15,000. While currently targeted to men, one company reportedly plans to sell male versions for women later this year. The specification of sexbots can be tailor-made according to personal preference, and their use has often been defended on the health-related grounds of 'harm reduction,' and their supposed ability to curb the incidence of sex crimes and sexual violence against women and children, explain Dr Chantal Cox-George, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Professor Susan Bewley, Women's Health Academic Centre, King's College London. To try and explore the reported health-related pros and cons of sexbots further, and answer some of the questions clinicians will inevitably be faced with, the authors trawled a comprehensive research database, carried out internet searches, and discussed the issues with various different experts. They were unable to find a single study on the health implications of sexbots, but their research threw up four key themes: safer sex; therapeutic potential; treatment for paedophiles; and changing societal norms. It is thought that sexbots might have the potential to eliminate sex trafficking, tourism, and prostitution and encourage safer sex with the provision of sexbots made of washable bacteria-resistant fibres. But this is somewhat fanciful, suggest the authors, adding that it's not clear who would bear responsibility for condoms and cleaning protocols. "It is speculative whether the development of a sexbot marketplace will lead to lesser risk of violence and infections, or drive further exploitation of human sex workers," they write.
The idea that sexbots could be used to treat relationship difficulties, erectile dysfunction, and enforced celibacy as a result of ill health, aging, disability, or loss of a partner is plausible, the authors suggest. But equally, these devices might make existing problems worse and are hardly likely to satisfy intimacy needs and reciprocate desire. It has also been suggested that sexbots might be used to 'treat' paedophilia, or prevent sexual violence by providing an acceptable outlet for these urges. But they might instead help to normalise sexual deviancy or act as a practice ground for violence, including rape, say the authors. Then there's the issue of the 'airbrushed' appearance of sexbots, which are generally hairless, so helping to distort perceptions of female attractiveness, they point out. The lack of evidence is hardly likely to dampen market forces, say the authors, who suggest that sexbots are likely to become more affordable and more technologically advanced, so fuelling demand. Already, some sexbots are capable of responding to speech, can exhibit eye-tracking capabilities or perform limited mobile functions. "The overwhelming predominant market for sexbots will be unrelated to healthcare. Thus the 'health' arguments made for their benefits, as with so many advertised products, are rather specious," the authors conclude. "Currently, the precautionary principle should reject the clinical use of sexbots until their postulated benefits, namely 'harm limitation' and 'therapy' have been tested empirically."
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