The future seems to be moving at a far more accelerated pace than any of us could have predicted. The technological advances we’re making are incredible, but also sometimes quite frightening.

One such advance is the increase in interest around people having sex with AI (Artificial Intelligence) robots. Yes, you read that right. There is currently scientific research being undertaken on this subject, because the potential market for such robots is so large.

The definition of a sex robot according to BBCFuture is: ‘robots that take a humanoid form, constructed with the capacity for sexual activity, which have some kind of artificial intelligence allowing them to “think” rather than simply react to sensors.’

So, a robot that will be able to respond to you, rather than just reacting to sensor points on their ‘bodies’.

Apparently, the Real Doll is the closest thing we have to a fully-fledged sex robot with a realistic human body, but they cost up to $10,000 and still are apparently unconvincing partners. For example, a real sex robot would have to hold their own bodyweight, learn positions and ask and respond to questions.

These kinds of specific criteria are still a few years off according to roboticists, but advances are happening all the time for example scientists in Singapore have developed an artificial skin that can feel pressure.

Creepily, Shelly Ronen, an NYU researcher has told the BBC that a future with sex robots won’t seem so alien, as we will have been having sex with our partners through computers for years before that.

Sex toy company Oh My Bod have already paved the way for virtual sex, with an app called TASL enabling you to link a sex toy to your phone to be controlled remotely.

The future of sex it seems, is getting less and less human.

Lead Image via RealDoll