Next year may be the year of the robot lover. Futurist Dr. Ian Pearson predicts that humanity will start to see some forms of robot sex appearing in high-income, very wealthy households by 2025. He also believes that women may overtake men in the adoption of sex robots by 2025, partly because they already have a technological head start.
Vibrators have been around for over a century, but now the sex toy industry is also producing “teledildonic” devices that bring the fun and functionality of computing and networks to sex. According to a survey, as many as 63 percent of women admit they either already use or would like to use a sex toy, with 40 percent admitting that virtual reality would make sex more fun and enjoyable.
Although the market for human-like sexbots, which can cost more than $15,000, is often imagined to be male-dominated, some analysts believe that this gender balance is destined to flip. “I think it’s the men who should be worried,” said Harvard-trained mathematician and data scientist Dr. Cathy O’Neil. “It’s entirely possible that robots can outperform them.”
By 2025, women could overtake men in the adoption of sex robots, and by 2030, most people will have had virtual sex. By 2035, sex toys will be well-developed, and virtual reality sex will be the norm. By 2050, sex with robots will overtake sex with other humans.
Experts predict that the shift will begin with virtual sex, which “most people” will have had by 2030, due to the rise in connected devices and the nature of work and long-distance relationships. As the technology advances, people will become more comfortable with the idea of sex with robots, and by mid-century, the squeamishness will gradually evaporate.