Manufacturers are mulling creating a robot, similar to a human, that allows its sex partner to do everything he or she wants.
At the same time, similarities between robots and humans could pose a serious problem. What would happen if the difference between a normal sexual partner and a machine will be blurred?
German expert Catrin Misselhorn fears that the expression of certain fantasies with robots can lead to a situation where such activities would be transferred into reality.
German Spiegel Online magazine quoted the expert as saying that a person who has contact with a sex robot "will imagine a real human being" whom this person wants to abuse or molest.
At the same time, expert Undine de Riviere believes that robots won't be able to replace human beings, as they lack emotions that are essential for a person. Often people come to a brothel not only to receive a physical contact, but also some sort of intimacy.
"It is important for customers to be accepted with their own, sometimes unusual sexuality," the expert said, adding that sometimes a person just needs a hug and warm emotions, which a robot is unable to offer.
On the other hand, some researchers believe that brothels with sex robots will be able to offer customers a safer and cheaper way to express their sexual fantasies. Moreover, a sexual contact with a robot is less likely to cause sexually transmitted diseases if a person follows certain hygiene recommendations.