The future is here (Picture: Warner Bros)

In the future world of the 2001 film A.I., the main character meets Gigolo Joe, a male sex robot on the run after being framed for murder.

That seems fitting for a sci-fi set in the late 21st century, but experts are now saying that this year not only we could see the robot industry explode, but we may well see ‘sexbots’ become the biggest tech trend.

Dr Helen Driscoll, a leading authority on the psychology of sex and relationships from the Unviersity of Sunderland, said robotic, interactive, motion-sensing technology will likely become a greater and greater feature of the sex industry in the next few years.



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‘Sextech’ is growing (Picture: Getty Images)

Robophilia, or a sexual attraction to robots, might not be a concept we’re familiar with now, but as attitudes change and ‘sextech’ develops, it is conceivable that this become a sexual preference, Dr Driscoll added.

‘We tend to think about issues such as virtual reality and robotic sex within the context of current norms,’ she told the Mirror.

‘But if we think back to the social norms about sex that existed just 100 years ago, it is obvious that they have changed rapidly and radically.

‘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.’

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RealDoll are designing new models that blink and hold simple conversations (Picture; Getty Images)

And it isn’t just about sex. Dr Driscoll says people may begin to fall in love with their virtual reality partners.

A.I. research David Levy of the University of Maastricht goes one step further. He told LiveScience that ‘love and sex with robots are inevitable.’

The technology has a long way to go, but early versions are already here. RealDoll CEO Matt McMullen is designing a new ‘toy’ that blinks, opens its mouth and even has simple conversations.

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