The idea of having sex with a robot might seem more like something out of a science fiction film.
But one in five of us are now open to the idea, according to new research.
Now, one academic claims droids could also lead to changes in the sex industry, replacing prostitutes to help stamp out sexual slavery and trafficking.
Dr John Danaher, a lecturer in business at NUI Galway believes that sex robots could be a good substitute for human prostitutes.
He told the Daily Star: ‘The cyborgs can cater for desire for sexual variety, freedom from constraint and complication and fear of lack of sexual success.
‘Technology may become better at developing emotional bonds with their clients.
‘They won’t need to ‘fake it’ the same way as human prostitutes.’
Mr Danaher also added that using robots could also help stamp out sexual slavery and trafficking.
A recent survey was done by VoucherCodesPro, who asked 2,816 sexually active Brits aged 18 to describe which activities they would then carry out with a cyborg.
Researchers asked those participants who said they would have sex with a robot why they would do it.
Seventy two per cent said they thought the robots ‘would be very good at it’ while 28 per cent said it would be a new experience.
A recent report, released by leading futurologist Dr Ian Pearson, said sex with robots will be more common than sex with humans by 2050.
The bots will use artificial intelligence and will look just like humans, Dr Pearson claims.
He says people will see their sexbots like their cars, spending thousands on them.
‘It will be a purchase in which a lot of time is spent deliberating over appearance and functionality.
‘Most people will obviously buy androids that they think are attractive and even sexy, and some will be bought specifically because of that.
‘With the advanced AI they will have, even functionally targeted androids will become valued members of the home, and people will form strong emotional bonds with them.
‘Some people will buy their robots with sex as a key purpose.
‘Others will find that they become sexually attracted to them later, but either way, sex with very smart and sexually attractive androids will become common, very common,’ he said.
Neal Slateford, co-owner of online sex toy retailer Lovehoney, also sees a future where sexbots are mainstream.
‘The technology is developing all the time, and the early robotic toys they have created are still out of the price range of most people – costing around £6,000 ($7,777),’ he said.
‘Prices will inevitably come down, and we envisage selling mass market robotic toys in around three years’ time. They could be really brilliant products – and let’s face it, it is the safest way to have a threesome with your partner and not end up in the divorce courts.’
His company already plans to stock the bots when the prices are feasible for general consumers, and could even be making its own one day.
‘We think this is a far better application of robotic technology than new robotic military products – it is far better to make love than war.’
Many people can see a variety of benefits that sexbots have to offer.
Behaviour therapist Nicolas Aujula sees them as a mechanism for helping fetishists explore extreme sexual fantasies, which could help fight sex crime.
Mr Aujula said: ‘Over the next few years, sex bots I believe could commonly provide a safe and discreet solution for exploring fantasies – offering the possibilities of simply having more creative sex, through to satisfying extreme fetish behaviour.
‘Controversially, of course, being safely able to explore and indulge in fantasies leads to the debate whether or not the use of sex bots could reduce incidences of harmful abuse against others, as well as STIs, rape, unwanted pregnancies and conditions such as AIDS.’
But not everyone sees sexbots as a good idea.
Dr Kathleen Richardson, a senior research fellow in the ethics of robots at De Montfort University in Leicester, told MailOnline the bots could make humans lose their empathy.
‘Sex dolls are inspired by ways of relating that do not require empathy. By promoting and cultivating these objects, we are in effect promoting non-empathetic forms of living as adults,’ she said.
‘The robots and dolls are not ‘participating’ in any sex – this is all happening in the minds of the buyers – which is why prostitution is used frequently as the reference point for these objects, a person is used like a thing.
‘We have to stop treating the commercial exploitation of human bodies for sex as inevitable response to some innate biological drive or urge that is outside of human control.’