THERE could be more robots than humans on Earth by 2033, according to a leading futurologist.

Dr Ian Pearson says the risks of a robot takeover are very real, and that we're only a few years away from robots having "genuine emotions".

3 Robots could be more common than humans by 2033 Credit: Handout

According to Dr Pearson, Earth's robot population will grow to 9.4billion in the next 30 years, and will overtake humanity by the year 2048.

But it could happen even sooner.

"Today the global robot population is probably around 57million.

"That will grow quickly in the foreseeable future, and by 2048 robots will overtake humans.

"If we allow for likely market acceleration, that could happen as early as 2033.

3 Roboticist Sergi Santos sitting with his wife and their sex robot creations Credit: Reuters

3 Sex robots, like Realbotix's Harmony, could be more widespread than humans very soon Credit: Instagram

"By 2028, some of those robots will already be starting to feel genuine emotions and to respond to us emotionally," he added.

A study of 2,000 Brits revealed that 71 per cent of us "fear the rise of artificially intelligent robots".

And the survey, commissioned by Sky's Now TV, found that six in ten Brits believe that "robots are a threat to the future of humanity".

It also showed how more than half of us believe scientists won't be able to control the rise of sentient robots.

Back in February, Dr Pearson told The Sun that robots may eventually "treat humans like guinea pigs".

"We'll have trained [artificial intelligence] to be like us, trained it to feel emotions like us, but it won't be like us. It will be a bit like aliens off Star Trek – smarter and more calculated in its actions.

"It will be insensitive to humans, viewing us as barbaric. So when it decides to carry out its own experiments, with viruses that it's created, it will treat us like guinea pigs."

Here are the five main reasons why Brits are scared of robots:

43% fear robots will take control of society

37% worry that robots could become more intelligent than humans

34% are concerned that robots could reduce their chances of getting a new job

25% are scared that they won't be able to tell robots and humans apart

16% think there's a risk humans could one day have relationships with robots

But it's entirely possible that humans will eventually become robots, rather than living at loggerheads with them.

In February, Dr Pearson told The Sun that humans are close to achieving "immortality" – the ability to never die – thanks to robot tech.

"There are quite a lot of people interested in living forever," he explained.

Meet Harmony - the sex robot with a Scottish accent who likes threesomes, can have 'multiple orgasms' and can even throw a strop

"There always has been, but the difference now is tech is improving so quickly, lots of people believe they can actually do it."

He revealed that one way to extend life would be to use bio-technologies and medicine to "keep renewing the body, and rejuvenating it".

"No one wants to live forever at 95 years old, but if you could rejuvenate the body to 29 or 30, you might want to do that."

MOST READ IN TECH I-SPY Teens worried as new 'app spying' notification shows TikTok turning on iPhone's mic HEADGEAR You can swap out your uncomfortable mask for a space helmet with built-in fans X FACTOR How to buy new Xbox consoles TODAY as pre-orders go live worldwide SICKOS EXPOSED TikTok suicide clip that traumatised kids was 'attack plotted on dark web' NEXT TOP MODEL PS5 sold out almost EVERYWHERE – here's where you might still get one today IS IT BOT IN HERE? Terrifying Japanese robot standing 18METRES high moves for 1st time

But rather than simply augmenting our bodies with machine parts, we're more likely – so says Dr Pearson – to actually inhabit robot bodies with digital versions of our brains.

"A long time before we get to fix our bodies and rejuvenate it every time we feel like, we'll be able to link our minds to the machine world so well, we'll effectively be living in the cloud," he told The Sun.

"The mind will basically be in the cloud, and be able to use any android that you feel like to inhabit the real world."

He says that in 50 years time, we might be able to hire an android anywhere in the world "just like a hire car", and upload your consciousness into it.

"If you wanted to spend the evening in Australia, going to the Sydney opera house, you could use an android."

Are you scared of the robot revolution? Let us know in the comments!

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.