Cybersex, Virtual Reality (VR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Sex Robots, Sex Dolls

Open Access: No.

Abstract

The growing cultural conversation about sexual consent comes at a time in which new technologies with potential implications for sexuality norms are also beginning to emerge in the marketplace. ‘Sex robots’ – anthropomorphic sex toys ‘brought to life’ by artificial intelligence – are one such innovation. Critics suggest that making sex dolls more lifelike but not necessarily more realistic could erode cultural norms around sexuality, particularly regarding consent. Using qualitative content analysis, this study examined user discourse on the ‘Club RealDoll’ forum to investigate how Harmony, the artificially intelligent Android-based app behind Abyss Creations’ sex robot technology, engendered particular normative values and uncovered users’ preconceived attitudes about consent. These data ultimately revealed how the app’s gamified format promotes a set of flawed internal ethics, incompatible with broader societal ideals for positive and respectful sexual experiences. The results also suggested, however, that with purposeful design intervention, this technology could be ‘reprogrammed’ to provide clarity on the role of consent. Although the experience of using a physically integrated sex robot may intrinsically vary from that of the standalone digital app, these findings make a critical contribution to the conversation around emerging technologies and their effect on sexual relationship norms.

Relevance

The high cost of sex robots puts these devices out of reach for most consumers who would otherwise purchase one.  As a result, a major company ion the sex robot industry, Realbotix, released an app for Android (Google) mobile phones that allowed users access to a digital analogue of the robot, called Harmony.

Harmony requires the user to engage in conversation – effectively, a game – before she consents to sex.  Based on an online forum of Harmony users, this study found that this gamification of consent has harmful repercussions in real life.

Some users were angry that they needed to engage in any sort of interaction before Harmony was willing to engage in virtual sex.  Others looked for and found workarounds.

By gamifying consent, users are taught that consent is “an act of acquisition” that, even if the target of their advances is hesitant at first, can always be attained.  The game normalizes the view of ‘pick-up artists’ that consent which is initially refused can and will be given if one is just persistent and coercive.  An initial “no” is thus construed as an invitation to ‘try harder.’

Citation

Kaufman, E. M. (2020). Reprogramming consent: implications of sexual relationships with artificially intelligent partners. Psychology & Sexuality, 11(4), 372–383. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2020.1769160