By 2050, robots might be programmed to love

The “Futurama” pilot premiered a
long time ago – okay, so 1999 was only
eight years ago – but it’s still pretty
hilarious. Remember when Fry first met
Bender by that suicide booth?

“You really want a robot for a friend?”
Bender asked.

“Yeah, ever since I was 6!”

Bender consented with, “But I don’t
want anyone to think we’re robosexuals,
so if anyone asks, you’re my debugger.”

That might have been a joke, but
“robosexuality” is more plausible in the
future than once thought, according to
researcher David Levy. Levy had some
members of the blogosphere buzzing
when his book, “Love + Sex with Robots:
The Evolution of Human-Robot Relationships,”
was published a few weeks ago.

Levy predicts human-robot partnerships
will become a reality by 2050.
According to a LiveScience.com feature in
October, Levy thinks these partnerships
will start in the state of Massachusetts
because it is at the forefront of both social
issues and technology research.

The robots Levy has in mind aren’t
cartoon robots comprised of bolts and
metallic boxes. Nope, instead, he is referring
to robots who take on more human
forms: androids. (So . Data from “Star
Trek: The Next Generation”?)

Levy basically compares the skepticism
of robot-human marriages to the
struggles of interracial and same-sex
(human) marriages. These human
matters belong in a completely different
department from the affections humans
have with their pets, which Levy uses to
exemplify non-human love objects.

Sexpert and Wired.com blogger
Regina Lynn weighs in on Levy’s book
in her Nov. 30 blog entry, titled “10
Reasons I’d Rather Marry a Robot.”

In all seriousness, Lynn does make
a few good points. No. 2 is one of my
favorites: “Artificial intelligence is still
intelligence.” So is No. 4: “A robot will
only create drama if I want it to.”

Still, I don’t know if I’d consider marrying
a robot right now, let alone a human.
2050 is quite a ways away, so I might
change my mind when my mental and
emotional facilities become increasingly
decrepit. It might not be that bad – after all,
I don’t think it could be more painful than
sitting through “Bicentennial Man.”