# Ethics of Sex with Robots Debated in Academic Circles By Eva Rubenov | Published 2006-06-21 | Naughty Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ethics-of-sex-with-robots-debated-in-academic-circles References: [boingboing.net](http://www.boingboing.net/2006/06/19/yay_robot_sex_ahem_e.html) & [timesonline](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2230715,00.html) Oh my. The ethics of Robot Sex is now being debated in academic circles. The following is an excerpt from the article in The Times: THE race is on to keep humans one step ahead of robots: an international team of scientists and academics is to publish a “code of ethics” for machines as they become more and more sophisticated. Although the nightmare vision of a Terminator world controlled by machines may seem fanciful, scientists believe the boundaries for [human-robot interaction](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fourier-g3) must be set now — before [super-intelligent robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/engineai-robotics) develop beyond our control. “Security, safety and [sex are the big concerns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/intimacy-technology),” said Henrik Christensen, a member of the Euron ethics group. How far should robots be allowed to influence people's lives? How can accidents be avoided? Can deliberate harm be prevented? And what happens if robots turn out to be sexy? “The question is what authority are we going to delegate to these machines?” said Professor Ronald Arkin, a roboticist at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. “Are we, for example, going to give robots the ability to execute lethal force, or any force, like crowd control?” The forthcoming code is a sign of reality finally catching up with science fiction. Ethical problems involving machines were predicted in the 1950s by the science fiction writer Isaac Asimov whose book I, Robot was recently turned into a Hollywood film. The Terminator and Robocop series of films also portrayed mechanical law enforcers running amok. (Times Online) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.1/10 - Popularity: 94% | Activity: 82% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 10% men, 90% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Naughty](https://www.trendhunter.com/naughty) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Ethics of Sex with Robots:** The increased attention on the ethics of human-robot interaction presents an opportunity for innovators to develop ethical guidelines and safety protocols. - **Code of Ethics for Machines:** The development of a 'code of ethics' for machines presents an opportunity for the creation of new industries based on designing, implementing and enforcing such guidelines. - **Human-robot Interaction Boundaries:** The debate surrounding the boundaries of human-robot interaction presents an opportunity for innovators to develop new ways of designing and controlling robots to prevent accidents and ensure safety. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Robotics and AI:** The increased attention on the ethics of human-robot interaction presents significant opportunities for the robotics and AI industry to develop ethical guidelines and safety protocols. - **Robot Sex Industry:** The possibility of robots becoming 'sexy' presents potential opportunities for the development of a new industry focused on sex robots and related technologies. - **Regulatory and Legal Services:** The development of a 'code of ethics' for machines presents significant opportunities to lawyers and regulatory agencies involved in the creation and implementation of robotics policies and regulations. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI-Powered Customer Service Humanoids](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aipowered-humanoid-robot.md) - [Advanced Humanoid Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ameca.md) - [Intuition-Inspired Robot Safety Technologies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/predictive-safety-engine.md) - [Cutting-Edge AI Humanoid Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/old-world-labs.md) - [AI-Enabled Walking Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/optimus-robot.md) - [Socially Adept Gaming Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gaming-robots.md) - [General-Purpose Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/generalpurpose-robots.md) - [Innovative Robotic Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/engineai-robotics.md) - [Robotic Wedding Cakes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robocake.md)