I heart Robot

Wondering what to get your robot for Valentine's Day this year? While the idea seems strange now, human-robot marriage will be legal by the year 2050 according to a new book called "Love and Sex with Robots" by David Levy. Levy is an internationally renowned expert on artificial intelligence.

Not tonight honey, I'm downloading some important files.

"People have been using machines and toys for sexual gratification for years and robots are just a natural evolution of the technology," Levy writes. "The Japanese are already making sex robots and sending them to outlying fishing villages."

Sex toys are a billion-dollar a year industry according to Levy.

Erika Knissin, an employee at "The Blue Boutique," a sex shop in Salt Lake, said they have yet to receive requests for sex robots at their store.

"Our [blow up] dolls have cyber-skin, which is very real, but not robotic functions," Knissin said.

Some dolls at the boutique can "talk dirty" but cannot reciprocally communicate.

Levy argued that robots would be physically and mentally indistinguishable from humans within 40 years. He wrote that a person could be standing within two feet of a robot and not know it.

"People will be able to choose the size, physical characteristics, personality types and knowledge that the user wants," wrote Levy. "Robots will learn about your likes and dislikes. The robot will be able to understand you and change behavior accordingly,"

WSU student Xitlali Loza said robots would not appeal to her emotionally. She said she thought robot sex could teach men and boys the wrong lessons about women.

"If you have a robot that does whatever you want it to do," Loza said, "you will tend to dominate the real women you meet later on."

WSU student Christian Harris said the prospect of robot marriage was appealing.

"I think it's a great idea," Harris said. "I could have her do my laundry, fix my car, buy groceries, and please me in the bedroom."

He said a robot would make the "ultimate wife."

Harris said if he was married, then having sex with his robot housekeeper would not be cheating.

"The question is," Harris said, "does my wife get one too? I'll have to decide if I can afford a butler for her."

Harris said he hopes the price comes down fast so he can afford one.

"Sex with your robot housekeeper is only cheating as much as using a toy," said WSU Professor Omar Guevara. "It's less problematic than pornography because porn involves want of someone else. Robot sex would just be pure carnal activity."

WSU radiology student Lindsay Allen said, "Why would you want to marry a robot if you can have the real thing? I don't see the point."

She said they use robots in radiology but she was not attracted to any.

Some are not so lucky in love. Levy wrote, "Robot sex will become the only sexual outlet for a few sectors of the population; the misfits, the very shy, the sexually inadequate."

WSU student Kelsey Povey had religious concerns.

Povey said, "You couldn't start a family."

She said she would not be able to establish an emotional connection with a "glorified vacuum cleaner."

If robot marriage were legal, then couples could adopt children, according to Levy. "Robot marriage is fine," said WSU student Amber Wilson, "but if it's legal before gay marriage I'm gonna be upset."

WSU anthropology professor Linda Eaton said she found the idea of robot marriage "extremely unlikely."

"He'll [Levy] sell lots of books but not the lifestyle," Eaton said. "Just who will robots imitate? Humans are much too complicated and diverse to replicate."

Eaton said it would be a "sad day for humanity" if robot marriage was accepted.