Could a sex robot replace men?
As the first robotic male companion aimed at women is released, Closer asks if there’s a danger it could render men obsolete
With his brooding good looks, tall W 6ft stature and rippling sixpack, sex robot Henry looks like the perfect catch. And for £8,000, he could be all yours.
Created by Us-based tech company Realbotix, the robot, dubbed “Robohunk”, is the first aimed at women and is set to launch in the UK this year. The company are also the makers of female sex robot Harmony, (costing £11,700), which hit headlines when it launched last year for its super-realistic look, as well as its ability to converse and simulate an orgasm.
COMPANIONSHIP
The robotic dolls are a growing trend – with men across the world investing in sex bots. In Japan alone, 2,000 dolls are sold each year.
Now, women are getting their own chance at owning a sex bot with Henry, whose 6st silicone body is completely anatomically correct and is easy to manoeuvre. He speaks with a British accent, recites poems, and asks you about your day – all controlled via a tablet.
However, it’s not a case of one bot fits all, because Henry can be customised in every way – with added extras such as the shape and size of his manhood pushing up the price of a bespoke bot to £11,000. Although the manufacturers have yet to work out how to make his penis completely robotic so it can vibrate or thrust.
And the manufacturers are convinced they can change women’s lives. Speaking about the launch of Henry, Realbotix CEO Matt Mcmullen said, “Women have the same issues of loneliness as men. People call them sex dolls, but mostly it’s about companionship. In this world of computers, people are missing out on human interaction.”
Experts have predicted that sex bots will be commonplace within ten years, and according to a recent poll by Yougov 10 per cent of women in the UK admit they’d consider giving a sex robot a whirl.
Relationship expert Tracey Cox is all for it. She says, “I think sex robots could be great for women. There is a percentage of the population who find it very difficult to form a relationship and therefore bots could act a bit like a dog, in the sense that they offer companionship.
“Plus, on a basic level, sex robots would allow women the freedom to have no-stringsattached sex without the fear of getting pregnant or contracting a sexually transmitted disease. And they’re safer than going out and meeting a stranger on Tinder.”
Tracey adds that a robot could be a way to help women who have had negative sexual experiences in the past.
CONFIDENCE TOOL
She says, “It could definitely work as a bridging tool for women who have problems with sex for all manner of reasons. Having a form of male presence, rather than just a vibrator, may be a way to help rebuild your confidence in the bedroom.”
And for women who want to experiment within a relationship, Tracey says that sex bots could offer a safe space to explore and may even make women less likely to cheat if they are sexually satisfied by the bot.
She says, “Many women are nervous about suggesting new things to their partners, so bots could offer the chance to try out your Fifty Shades-style fantasy. They could also offer an alternative to a threesome without the emotional fallout.”
However, she admits there are downsides to having a
robotic lover. With little evidence to show how a bot may affect a relationship, there are fears they could cause problems.
Tracey says, “It will be interesting to see whether partners become jealous of the robots. It’s one thing walking in on your partner using a sex toy, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of men would have a problem with a sex robot with bigger muscles and a larger penis than them.
“For single women who are sexually satisfied by a robot, it could stop them going out and meeting men in real life. But in all honesty, I don’t think bots will ever replace real flesh and blood, because we need the emotional as well as the physical connection.”
Still, Tracey says that robot makers could get smarter and make devices like Henry better than a real man in some ways.
NO EXTRAS
She explains, “Anatomically, women have a problem. The clitoris is outside of the vagina, so a penis is woefully bad at stimulating it and a lot of women struggle to orgasm.
“So bots like Henry, who don’t have a functioning penis or vibrate, are not really doing anything different from a penis.
“If a sex bot had a built-in vibrator that stimulated the clitoris, and a penis that’s shaped the right way so the G-spot is also stimulated, it would work better than a real-life man.
“Currently, men are designing these bots and they haven’t got a clue. When a sex robot for women is designed by a woman, that’s when you’ll have a good one. Until then, I don’t think robots will replace men or drastically change the dating landscape.”