未來機器人將滿足日常性生活需求
Sex between married couples will increasingly be saved for special occasions as robots step in to satisfy everyday needs, experts have predicted.
專家預言，隨着機器人走入臥室滿足人們的日常性需求，已婚夫婦之間的性行爲將越來越多地留給特殊的場合。
Use of artificial intelligence (AI) devices in the bedroom will be socially normal within 25 years, an international robotics conference has heard.
從國際機器人大會上獲悉，人工智能裝置在臥室中的使用將在25年內成爲一種社會常態。
Comparing sex robots to the rise of the ebook, Dr Trudy Barber, a pioneer in the impact of technology on sexual intercourse, said the machines would enable people to greater appreciate “the real thing”.
研究技術對兩性影響的先驅特魯迪巴伯博士把機器人與電子書的出現相提並論。她說，這些機器人將使人們可以更大程度地珍視“真實的東西”。
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 affordable.
諸如名爲“洛基”或“洛克西真實伴侶”的設備，目前花大約7000英鎊就能買到，但是預料這一領域內的科技進步將使性愛機器人變得更逼真和廉價。
Speaking yesterday at the International Congress of Love and Sex with Robotics, Dr Barber said people’s growing immersion in technology means it was only a matter of time before it takes a mainstream role in sex.
巴伯博士在昨天的“機器人愛情與性愛國際大會”上發言時說，人類越來越多地沉浸在科技中，意味着科技在性愛方面扮演主流角色只是一個時間問題。
“It could be that we are so busy with our lives, we are so embedded in our technological narrative that the idea of engaging in long-distance sex and robot sex is actually a natural process in our evolutionary cycle,” she said.
她說：“可能我們的生活十分忙碌，我們很大程度地沉浸於這樣一種科技的敘事中，即從事遠距離性愛和機器人性愛的設想實際上將是我們進化週期中的自然過程。”
“I think what will happen is that they will make real-time relationships more valuable and exciting.”
“我認爲未來將發生的事情是它們將使實時的兩性關係變得更加珍貴和令人興奮。”
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.
不過，人工智能專家一直警告說，整整一代的青少年有可能“失貞”於類人的機器裝置，並在不真實的性愛概念中長大成人。
In June leading scientist Dr Noel Sharkey, a former advisor to the UN, called on governments to prevent robotics being hijacked by the sex industry.
今年6月，知名科學家、聯合國前顧問尼爾.夏基呼籲各國政府防止機器人技術淪爲色情行業的工具。
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，“問題不是它何時能夠被人們接受，而是我們何時能夠融入。”
“We are able to have so many colours on our sexual pallet now; I think we’d be daft not explore them.”
“我們現在的性愛調色板上可以有如此繽紛的色彩，我認爲不對它們進行探索將是愚蠢的。”
Questions that will face regulators involve how much data to allow robots to collect about their human partners and send back to their manufacturers.
監管機構將面臨的問題包括允許機器人收集多少有關其人類伴侶的數據並把這些數據反饋至製造商。
Others include whether to legislate for purely passive robots, or to allow devices which entice humans to have sex, and whether robots would have to make clear that they are machines rather than humans.
其他問題包括是否要以法律規定機器人的純被動性，即是否允許機器人引誘人類與其發生性關係，以及機器人是否需要向對方表明自己是機器而非人類。
Kate Devlin, computing 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.
倫敦大學戈德史密斯學院計算機技術專家凱特德夫林說，未來的性愛機器人很可能被設計成能夠學習其人類伴侶的性愛偏好以改善性能。
“Companion” devices such as the Pepper robot are being increasingly used to provide stimulation to elderly people, particularly in Asian countries such as Japan.
諸如“胡椒”機器人之列的“伴侶”裝置正在越來越多地被用於爲老年人提供刺激，尤其是在日本等亞洲國家。
Created two years ago, the humanoid robot is designed with the ability to read certain emotions from analysing expressions and voice tones.
兩年前問世的“胡椒”人形機器人被設計成擁有通過分析表情和語調理解某些情緒的能力。
Scientists have said there is evidence the devices are being used by parents to keep their children company.
科學家已經表示，有證據表明這些裝置正在被家長們用來爲兒童提供陪伴。
Professor Sharkey yesterday challenged the prediction that sex robots would become mainstream.
昨天，夏基教授挑戰了性愛機器人會成爲主流的說法。
“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.”
“性愛機器人會在下個10年流行，儘管已經有10%的人準備好使用它們，但對於它會成爲社會主流我表示懷疑。”
"They are more likely to be viewed as tools for masturbation although having a humanoid body may make a difference to the fantasy.”
“儘管有一個真實的像人一樣的造型與單純幻想相比很不同，但機器人大多仍只會是自慰的工具而已。”
"Would you leave your sex robot out if your mum came to visit?
“如果你媽媽來了，你會把你的性愛機器人扔掉嗎？”
"Prostitution has been around for thousands of years and yet has never been socially normalised. "
“賣淫也都已存在了幾千年了，不是也從未能成爲社會主流嗎？”
"The problem is the same for both. "
“二者情況相似。”
"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 pretence."
“性愛機器人，或者賣淫，都是你和一個物體或是一個人之間單向的關係，你永遠都不會得到愛的迴應，除非僞裝。”
