ROBOTS featuring artificial intelligence are being developed for sex with humans.

Sex dolls already on the market have become more sophisticated and some companies are now striving to build artificial intelligence into their products.

However, Dr Kathleen Richardson, a senior research fellow in the Ethics of Robotics, at De Montfort University in Leicester, England, wants to ban the development of sex robots, stating it is unnecessary and undesirable.

“When I first started looking into the subject I thought, ‘oh sex robots, that’s harmless and perhaps these robots would reduce demand for real women and children,’” Dr Robertson told CNBC.

“But then as I researched the subject more I found that the opposite was true — that rather than reduce the objectification of women, children and also men and transgender people, these robots would contribute and reinforce their position in society (as objects).

“We have the real use of women and children in the real world (as sex objects) and this kind of paraphernalia reinforces that message.”

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Dr Helen Driscoll said continuing advances in technology mean the way in which humans interact with robots will change drastically in the coming years.

“Robophilia” will be the norm in 50 years, she told the Mirror.

Dr Driscoll, a leading authority on the psychology of sex and relationships, said “sex tech” was already advancing at a fast pace and by 2070, physical relationships will seem primitive.

“As virtual reality becomes more realistic and immersive and is able to mimic and even improve on the experience of sex with a human partner; it is conceivable that some will choose this in preference to sex with a less than perfect human being,” she said.

The Swedish science fiction drama series Real Humans — the second series being shown on SBS shortly — is set in the near-future of Sweden featuring androids, known as hubots, who are used illicitly as sexual partners.

True Companion, based in New Jersey, claims it has developed “the world’s first sex robot” Roxxxy, as well as a male version called Rocky. At $7000, the “sex robot can either have a conversation or interact physically!” and pre-orders allegedly are in the thousands. RealDoll manufacturer Abyss Creations, based in San Marcos, California, is a major seller of sex toys and is also in the early stages of a sex robot.

True Companion chief executive Douglas Hines told the BBC that there is a real need for Roxxxy and Rocky.

“We are not supplanting the wife or trying to replace a girlfriend. This is a solution for people who are between relationships or someone who has lost a spouse,” he said.

“People can find happiness and fulfilment other than via human interaction.”

Hines said he hopes Roxxxy will eventually become a self-learning engine that is able to talk to her owner and learn his likes or dislikes.

“The physical act of sex will only be a small part of the time you spend with a sex robot — the majority of time will be spent socialising and interacting,” he said.