NEWS: 01001001 0110010001101111

GEEK: 01001001 0110010001101111

It's a lonely world out there -- even surrounded by millions upon millions of other people, there just might not be that special someone for you. Perhaps it's for lack of a connection, or perhaps it's because that connection you did find is a little bit on the unconventional side. But whether it's the cold embrace of silicone and steel that one lusts for, or just simply some sort of connection, artificial intelligence researcher David Levy (courtesy of the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands) is putting forth a viable answer for the near future: robots.



It is by no means a new idea -- what Levy's research is proposing, however, is the idea of proposing to your robot before the point where it magically transforms into a real girl (or boy) is an option our world is hurtling toward at record speed.

Well, of course sex with robots is inevitable -- at this point, what with MP3-enhanced real dolls and all, I'd wager it's well beyond inevitable and on its way to the point of "already happening." Not that it's mentioned much in the mainstream, which is the difference here, and which Levy suggests will become much more commonplace once robots become a little less Rockit and a little more replicant. As it is, like a replicant, Levy suggests that robots are not so different than you and I to begin with. Structural integrity notwithstanding, anyway.

Personally, I'm all for it -- love is where you find it, be it in the kittenish motor hum of a warm hard-drive or the diesel thunder of the kid snoring next to you while you write a Newswire article. However, I do have this to say, regarding this of his predictions:

Is it too much to ask that, before we get the ball rolling on marriages to robots, that we make sure everyone not reliant on artificial intelligence gets their rights taken care of first? Besides, I have a feeling Massachusetts, for all their friendly liberalism, is a little less versed on technology than one would need for such endeavors to happen.



Then again, anything is possible when it comes to love, right?







_DictionaryGirl_ says: extra points to anyone who knows what the title says, and even more extra points if I got it wrong and you can correct me. We can't all be robots.

i can't wait to have sex with a robot
lmao

King Ludd does not approve.

I mean, seriously - aren't these people watching Battlestar Galactica? Don't they realize what a terrible idea this is?

ive said it before and ill say it again. once we start having sex with the robots, that's when theyre going to rise up against us. it wont start off like that scene in terminator 2, mind you. it would start with roving gangs of rogue automatons wandering into neighborhoods, like bears often do. then theyll start busting into peoples houses just to wreck up the place. They'll harass the elderly and force the "greatest generation" to fight once again.

[[ Insert WD-40 joke here ]]

I do, but I'm not going to tell you.

Great article!

Binary......

Robots are are allright till you get a whole room full of them......then you can't trust them.
They conspire.
For real.
Those bastards.

Seriously though....When you watch the movie I ROBOT, or read the book ( which is way different) and it talks about the '3 laws'......Well that is real, it is actualy a fundumental concept used when writting the foundation programming for robots.
I don't do programs......but I've learned the hard way that if your programmer is haveing a bad day, watch out. Robots have to follow their programming, until their base of applications is wide enough that certain commands inevitably conflict, then they make the choice.

They never seem to choose what you want. Those Bastards.

Ido?

Did you mean 01100001 01101001 01100010 01101111?

Ah, I get it. Weddings. Not the name of a creepy Japanese robot.

Massachusetts may be the first jurisdiction in the US to legalize it, but I'd bet Holland legalizes it at least 5 years before anyone in North America. They'll legalize anything. Then it will be BC, then Mass.

I'm going to start saving up money for my robot harem right now!

There's a very large gap between love and infatuation. A robot can't return any kind of emotional connection, but a psychologically damaged person could probably imagine that they do.

Whatever happened to "going out" and "meeting people"?

You have got to be kidding me?! Way to kill the human race right there. You know, blow up dolls are one thing but when you start incoporating AI into actual relationships.... holy hell. As if the world isn't introverted enough because of technology we have to go and suggest this?

And then what, develop a relationship? Too much work, I need instant gratification.

I can program that right?

I do!

Only if you actually know the binary code for all that you desire. I mean, would you really trust someone to program

"I like giving it in the butt"

correctly and not translate it into

"I like taking it in the butt"?

Yes it could get confusing? I'll stay simple with the "lay on your back and spread teh leg" program.

I'm sure some geek could screw that up too

Why do you need to marry a robot anyway? Those fuckers don't have to pay taxes! You can't sue them for child support! It's totally unnecessary.

If I could afford a robot I'd already have a girlfriend...this is just starting another stupid marriage argument. Why would you need to marry it?

You could have them work a fulltime job and do all the housework while you sat on your ass all day eating junkfood and playing with your Wii.

Hm. Maybe I should rethink my opposition to this.

Yes just my luck it would say "get away from me " .

You'd probably end up with a robot worse than a real woman. Also, stronger, able to hurl heavier items with a more refined targeting sensor, no real feelings, oh man, the list just goes on and on for how much worse it could be for you!

Oh it's no feat to beat the heat.
All reet! All reet!
So jeet your seet
Be fleet be fleet
Cool and discreet
Honey...

I have seen plenty of relationships where it seems there isn't any connection between the two people aside from some small apparent affection. I guess if it works for them.

Until there's a robot that can think and learn and love and laugh, then I don't think I'd have very much interest in one.

Is anybody else reminded of Bicentennial Man?

Futurama warned us about the risks of engaging in human-robot relationships. It eventually led to the destruction of the Earth by aliens.