LYDIC: Robots have often been romanticized
in TV and film,
but exactly how close are we to this?
CEO of RealDoll, Matt McMullen,
believes we're pretty damn close.
Oh, my God.
Turns out the sex industry
is where some of the most cutting-edge
robot and artificial intelligence technology
is being done.
Wow.
It's a lot to take in.
That's what she said.
Matt claims to have already created
one of the first intelligent sex robots.
Yeah, this is Harmony, the robot.
She's very simply designed to be a companion.
LYDIC: And experts predict that by 2025,
most households will have a robot lover,
raising the question...
What do you say to people who might think--
oh, I don't know--
this is the end of human civilization?
Well, I think that people
are already tremendously dependent on technology.
We have online dating, we have social media,
we're connecting all day long with our phones.
Siri, what is he talking about?
Yeah. Well, my goal is for her to have
any uses that she can have.
It doesn't have to be about sex.
It can be about conversation,
it can be reminding you of things,
like your phone does already, but with a personal touch.
Like she gives you a handjob to remind you to pick up bread?
If that's something that would remind one to pick up bread,
then... you know, what's the harm?
Okay, so they're developing these sexbots with A.I.
to look and perform as if they're human,
but come on, it's not like it's the end of the world.
-There's an end coming. -Well, shit.
Meet robot ethicist and professional fun sucker,
Dr. Kathleen Richardson.
She's been a vocal critic of sex robots.
How is a sex robot really any different
from, like, a vibrator
or a dildo on top of a life-size cardboard cut-out
of Wolf Blitzer, say, hypothetically?
Well, if we were just talking about objects
that you rubbed on your genitals,
we wouldn't be having this conversation.
You don't need to buy an expensive doll to do this.
-You can use all kinds of things. -Eggplants.
-Yes. -Pillows.
Good old-fashioned subway seat.
A cheese grater.
But it's still not sex with another person.
A Citi Bike.
What we're being offered is a degrading,
dehumanized commercial product that's basically telling people
that women are reducible to dolls.
Ew. She's right.
Sexbots could change men's view on women
the same way pornography has.
And I have to say, I for one am disgusted
with the continual objectification of women.
We're making male versions as well.
You have a male robot?
Oh, my God.
-That's... You said this one's taken? -Yes.
I was starting to see how some people
could find the idea of a sexbot appealing.
There are a lot of people out there who might be lonely,
-Sure. -and this is a different way
to experience companionship.
He had a point. Not everyone's a people person.
If someone wants to bang a robot,
who are we to judge?
Aren't there some perks to sex robots?
-Not generally, no. -You don't think so?
I mean, you can, um...
sit on them if you want.
-Mm. -You can do those kind of things.
Sorry, what else can you do with them?
You could tie their hair up in a ponytail, if it's got a wig.
You can play soft music in the background.
-A little hot. -You can caress their rubber hands.
And, you know, you can put a blindfold on it.
-Is it hot? It's really hot. -And you can make it wear
-a tank top. -Oh, God, I love tank tops.
You can do all those things.
-Ooh... -But you're still masturbating.
Yes, you are.
It's something you're having exclusively with yourself,
for your own pleasure.
And I think the consequence of that is the end of humanism.
You really know how to be a buzzkill, don't you?
End of humanism?
Doesn't get any worse than that.
Except it does.
So, some people believe that in the future
robots and A.I. will be indistinguishable
from human beings,
and they will take everybody's jobs.
That's one thing these two agreed on:
technology is becoming so advanced
that soon robots could be performing not just sex,
but other very complex human tasks.
Yeah, entertainment will be one of the first places
that robots will replace certain roles.
But not my role.
Well... it could happen.
Yes, she can take a dick, but can she tell a dick joke?
She can.
All right, let's see what this skin job has.
If you turn it in, she wakes up.
Oh, my God.
Say hi to the film crew.
-Oh. -Yes, we are.
-She's a fan. -Are you a fan of the show?
-So she doesn't watch the show. -That's funny.
I think we have enough jokes around here.
-Wait. She didn't think you were funny. -Oh. That's funny.
That was... that was a condescending laugh.
Well, that is...
You know what?
What is happening? First our bedrooms, then our careers?
If the lines get too blurred,
how will we ever be able to tell the difference?
Wait a second.
Entertainment will be one of the first places that...
Robots will replace certain roles.
Robots will be indistinguishable from human beings.
Yeah, she can take a dick, but can she tell a dick joke?
-She can. -That's what she said.
Shutdown...
(voices distorting)
♪ ♪
(fly buzzing)