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that they share the doll in bed. itsa says it’s not strange. “If in a riage the man doesn’t always satisfy wife, his wife has a sex toy,” she says. ask her if their creations objectify men. “I think feminists have more ortant issues to be worrying about,” itsa says. “I don’t think the doll is g any harm. I don’t think she objecs women. I don’t think just because man has a doll suddenly he’ll run nd thinking women are dolls.” o who buys one of these dolls? eople like to think it’s people who re lonely, who can’t form relationships, have problems socially – but it’s not like that at all,” Dr Sergi insists. “You could be married and want to spice up your sex life, and we’ve had couples, the age range is very wide.”

The sex-tech industry is worth an estimated £23billion a year, including sex toys bought by women. Sex robots are becoming the ultimate sex toy, and more acceptable, in the way that “marital aids” have moved on from seedy back-street shops to the high street.

What does it say about the future of human relationships? Are we moving into a world where we can choose not to have any face-to-face human interac- tions at all? Will more people be happy to admit they own a sex robot?

Dr Sergi believes it will become normal to have one in the home.

Samantha has an entertainment mode and even a “family” mode. “Family mode means basically that she’ll behave in a way that she will not look like a sex doll. She can tell you jokes, give health tips and motivational quotes. She’s quite funny to be honest,” he says.

Maritsa says when Sergi was carrying the robot downstairs and she was switched to entertainment mode, “she reminded him to do some weight training”.

There’s a lot more technological development ahead, but based on what developers like Dr Sergi Santos are coming up with now, we are perhaps around 20 years away from the creation of a walking, talking, thinking android, that we could actually fall in love with.

As the scientists and entrepreneurs race to make robots we can get really close to, the future of love, sex and relationships is getting closer.

On Assignment, ITV, 10.40pm tonight.

SEXBOT MAKER

a base BREAST WORLD Angus with Dr Sergi and his robots