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The concept of AI—specifically of the foxy, sexualized persuasion—has permeated pop culture for a very long time, most recently exemplified with Alex Garland's Ex Machina.
Technology, as it is wont to do, continues surging forward, simultaneously beckoning or threatening (depending on personal outlook) the potential of true artificial intelligence. And should these AI rise up, what kind of role would sexuality and sexual identity play in their existence—if at all? Hopes&Fears corralled a group of varied experts to weigh in through a group panel discussion to see what the future holds for us, the AI... and our respective crotch parts.
What does the SoylentNews community think about this?
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Artificial Sexuality: A Round-Table Discussion on Screwing Robots
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You are going to have a new love affair.
(Score: 2) by khedoros on Sunday May 24 2015, @07:26PM
The faux intelligence part is easy since we still have exponential improvement left in classical CPUs, GPUs, and storage, as well as algorithmic improvements. Effective robot bodies are harder work because it depends on material science.
The effective robot bodies part is easy because we still have exponential improvement in manufacturing methods, material science research, as well as nanoscale hardware design. Faux intelligence is harder work because we don't have a definition of that term or an understanding of how human intellect arises.
OK, I'm just messing with you. I don't think that there is an easy part here. A human-like body with similar strength, dexterity, mass, exterior appearance, and softness + warmth in all the right places isn't currently feasible, and we've got a long way to go before we can construct a body like that. We've got a long way to go. Even our best artificial arms aren't nearly as capable as a human arm, and it will take a lot of work before they are. At least we've got a concrete goal though. I think that our computing hardware and software are in a similar condition (there is room for improvement), but we don't really have a solid goal, beyond "Make something that behaves similarly enough to a human, in limited circumstances, that a human will accept it as such". I have no doubt that we'll get there, even if just by trial and error, but I wouldn't make light of the work on either side of the problem.