Sex between married couples will increasingly be saved for special occasions as robots step in to satisfy everyday needs, experts have predicted

专家预言，随着机器人走入卧室满足人们的日常性需求，已婚夫妇之间的性行为将越来越多地留给特殊的场合。

Use of artificial intelligence (AI) devices in the bedroom will be socially normal within 25 years, an international robotics conference has heard.

从国际机器人大会上获悉，人工智能装置在卧室中的使用将在25年内成为一种社会常态。

Comparing sex robots to the rise of the ebook, Dr Trudy Barber, a pioneer in the impact of technology on sexual intercourse¹, said the machines would enable people to greater appreciate “the real thing”.

研究技术对两性影响的先驱特鲁迪巴伯博士把机器人与电子书的出现相提并论。她说，这些机器人将使人们可以更大程度地珍视“真实的东西”。

Devices such as Rocky or Roxxxy True Companion can currently be bought for around 7,000 pounds, but advances in the field are predicted to make sex robots increasingly lifelike and affordable².

诸如名为“洛基”或“洛克西真实伴侣”的设备，目前花大约7000英镑就能买到，但是预料这一领域内的科技进步将使性爱机器人变得更逼真和廉价。

Speaking yesterday at the International Congress of Love and Sex with Robotics, Dr Barber said people’s growing immersion³ in technology means it was only a matter of time before it takes a mainstream⁴ role in sex.

巴伯博士在昨天的“机器人爱情与性爱国际大会”上发言时说，人类越来越多地沉浸在科技中，意味着科技在性爱方面扮演主流角色只是一个时间问题。

“It could be that we are so busy with our lives, we are so embedded⁵ in our technological⁶ narrative⁷ that the idea of engaging in long-distance sex and robot sex is actually a natural process in our evolutionary⁸ cycle,” she said.

她说：“可能我们的生活十分忙碌，我们很大程度地沉浸于这样一种科技的叙事中，即从事远距离性爱和机器人性爱的设想实际上将是我们进化周期中的自然过程。”

“I think what will happen is that they will make real-time relationships more valuable and exciting.”

“我认为未来将发生的事情是它们将使实时的两性关系变得更加珍贵和令人兴奋。”

However, AI experts have been warning that a generation of adolescents risk “losing their virginity” to humanoid devices and growing up with an unrealistic conception of sex.

不过，人工智能专家一直警告说，整整一代的青少年有可能“失贞”于类人的机器装置，并在不真实的性爱概念中长大成人。

In June leading scientist Dr Noel Sharkey, a former advisor⁹ to the UN, called on governments to prevent robotics being hijacked¹⁰ by the sex industry.

今年6月，知名科学家、联合国前顾问尼尔.夏基呼吁各国政府防止机器人技术沦为色情行业的工具。

But Dr Barber said，“The question is not “when will it become acceptable” but “when will we integrate”.”

但是巴伯博士表示，“问题不是它何时能够被人们接受，而是我们何时能够融入。”

“We are able to have so many colours on our sexual pallet now; I think we’d be daft not explore them.”

“我们现在的性爱调色板上可以有如此缤纷的色彩，我认为不对它们进行探索将是愚蠢的。”

Questions that will face regulators involve how much data to allow robots to collect about their human partners and send back to their manufacturers.

监管机构将面临的问题包括允许机器人收集多少有关其人类伴侣的数据并把这些数据反馈至制造商。

Others include whether to legislate¹¹ for purely¹² passive robots, or to allow devices which entice¹³ humans to have sex, and whether robots would have to make clear that they are machines rather than humans.

其他问题包括是否要以法律规定机器人的纯被动性，即是否允许机器人引诱人类与其发生性关系，以及机器人是否需要向对方表明自己是机器而非人类。

Kate Devlin, computing¹⁴ expert at Goldsmiths, University of London, said it was probable future sex robots would be designed to learn their human partner’s sexual preferences to improve performance.

伦敦大学戈德史密斯学院计算机技术专家凯特德夫林说，未来的性爱机器人很可能被设计成能够学习其人类伴侣的性爱偏好以改善性能。

“Companion” devices such as the Pepper robot are being increasingly used to provide stimulation¹⁵ to elderly people, particularly in Asian countries such as Japan.

诸如“胡椒”机器人之列的“伴侣”装置正在越来越多地被用于为老年人提供刺激，尤其是在日本等亚洲国家。

Created two years ago, the humanoid robot is designed with the ability to read certain emotions from analysing expressions and voice tones.

两年前问世的“胡椒”人形机器人被设计成拥有通过分析表情和语调理解某些情绪的能力。

Scientists have said there is evidence the devices are being used by parents to keep their children company.

科学家已经表示，有证据表明这些装置正在被家长们用来为儿童提供陪伴。

Professor Sharkey yesterday challenged the prediction that sex robots would become mainstream.

昨天，夏基教授挑战了性爱机器人会成为主流的说法。

“Sex robots will be used within the next decade but it is doubtful if they will become a societal norm although surveys show that around 10% would be prepared to use them.”

“性爱机器人会在下个10年流行，尽管已经有10%的人准备好使用它们，但对于它会成为社会主流我表示怀疑。”

"They are more likely to be viewed as tools for masturbation although having a humanoid body may make a difference to the fantasy.”

“尽管有一个真实的像人一样的造型与单纯幻想相比很不同，但机器人大多仍只会是自慰的工具而已。”

"Would you leave your sex robot out if your mum came to visit?

“如果你妈妈来了，你会把你的性爱机器人扔掉吗？”

"Prostitution has been around for thousands of years and yet has never been socially normalised. "

“卖淫也都已存在了几千年了，不是也从未能成为社会主流吗？”

"The problem is the same for both. "

“二者情况相似。”

"With sex robots and prostitution, you are having a one way relationship with an object or a person that does not return your love except by pretence¹⁶."

“性爱机器人，或者卖淫，都是你和一个物体或是一个人之间单向的关系，你永远都不会得到爱的回应，除非伪装。”