What do you think about technology making relationships obsolete?

Question

I've heard people saying that eventually we'll develop new technology to make traditional relationships obsolete. Want free sex without the risk of pregnancy? Sex robots. Want to start a family or have children? Artificial wombs, egg implants, and artificial sperm. I know a lot of these sounds like sci-fi but there are people who believe and want these to be developed so they don't have to go through relationships and marriage and risk breakups and divorces. Especially males who have been scorned by women either through divorce court, breakups, and/or rejection. What do you think? Should technology replace relationships? Will we get to that point in technology? Do you think the risks of marriage and relationships are worth it?

MorticiAddams · Accepted Answer

Technology cannot and will not ever replace interactions and relationships between people. And the very technologies you're citing are not designed to "replace" relationships, but to improve relationships!
Isn't it better for someone who needs a quick sexual release to get it done with technology made for that purpose rather than misleading and misuse a living person? It may also allow Asexual or Aromantic individuals who have no desire for, or are even disgusted by, having a relationship with another person to have a filling sex life and not have to worry. And do you have any idea how useful humanlike AI trained in socialization and even flirting could be in helping extreme introverts and those with social disorders learn to navigate these situations and build the confidence they'll need in a safe learning environment, rather than embarrassing themselves and burning bridges in their communities? And reproductive technicnology! It's wonderful! It was designed to help infertile people, like me, but it's also quite helpful for homosexual couples and people who, for whatever reason, would prefer to parent alone! It may even allow all the members of a polycule to give genetic material to their mutual children one day! How amazing would that be!!
Look at how many lives these things will improve.

As for those few sad individuals who are really so entitled and self important to have become embittered by a few setbacks and relationship failures that they'd rather enrich their lives with technology that always bends to their whim than engage in the ups and downs of relationships with other humans... perhaps it's better for both them and the people they would have inflicted themselves upon that they have an alternative other than spreading the ill effects of their bitterness.

AiahZ · Accepted Answer

I don't think technology SHOULD replace relationships. But I think it eventually will--or it will supplement them. If robots ever replace humans, though, it won't be "technology" that has replaced human relationships. It will be us humans. Google it. The number one reason for people presenting in mental health therapy settings is... failing or failed relationships. We humans just don't treat each other well. And we have unreasonable, even irrational, expectations of each other. OF COURSE if robots that can treat us the way we yearn to be are developed, a lot of people would prefer them. Um, they don't cheat, they don't steal, they aren't abusive, they don't lie, they don't despise us because of the way our appearance changes over our lifetime, they don't become violently jealous, they don't expect us to feel the same about them all the time... They could offer many (all?) the benefits of human relationships with few (none?) of the pain.

Don't want humans to be replaced by robots? Simple. Then step up your human relationships game.

TheFlak38 · Accepted Answer

These technological inventions are the reaction to the gynocentric society in which we live and the out of balance sexual market place that is rigged in favor of women. You don't develop a technology and then think what you should do with it. That's not how it works. You come up with a problem and then you develop the technology to solve the issue. Of course it will be men who will primarily gain from these things because it's men who are currently disadvantaged and desperate. Women are so afraid of sex bots and artificial wombs that they have already began to shame men just for THINKING that they might be better off with this technology than with a woman. With artificial wombs men will have genetic control over women for the first time in human history. And women are screeching autistically over it already. They will call you incel, gay, you're not a real man, who hurt you, sexist, misogynist, beta male all this dumb castration language they use to emotionally black mail you and bring you back to the plantation for their own interests. Well guess what ladies, there are laboratories around the world with scientists that you call beta and sexists and incels who have had enough of your bullshit and will create sex bots and artificial wombs no matter how much you're screeching and calling your armies of white knights for help.

hollowo · Accepted Answer

Bots interfering into the relationship world might not be one of the best use of them.

The bots would work for the commands by the user. So the user might get used to it and wouldn't want to hear a no from someone real. That might affect their work or may make it tough to socialize.

One might start to dislike the real world or humans and may start staying alone.

Bots are machines so if something goes wrong it may cause someone bad injuries or something one can't recover from.

For women having children is a tough job they do but if one asks them they might say the pain was nothing for the happiness that pain got them. A reason I didn't like surrogacy. A mothers womb would be the safety place for a baby and the journey itself is tough but full of joys and gets us them unforgettable memories.
: )

AmandaYVR · Answer

This is your first question out of the gate? Good for you. Somebody's thinking.
But are you going that direction, or the opposite? Do you think it's the future, or are you longing for deeper connections?
I am personally very anti all A. I. and robots, etc. I really don't see the appeal, and I'm very concerned about the direction it's heading. I've watched a lot of documentaries about this topic, discussed it at length irl, and made many comments on here. Just one a few min ago, actually. But it seems in general more people are content to go forward with it, and not oppose it. Society is technology addicted now, and it's not turning back. But hopefully many people continue to push back, and to think about the repercussions and ramifications. We don't have to go gently into the night.

aWes0MeNeSs · Answer

I can't see it really replacing them. People crave companionship and affection from other people, and robots or other technology will never be able to replace that.

Maybe in certain situations where it doesn't matter to some people it will, but never completely.

lumos · Answer

A ridiculous claim. Nothing can replace genuine human interaction. Maybe for some people who are scared of being alone forever or are incapable of connecting with others, and they are in the minority. But everyone else knows deep down that it's just a machine, and I think that that's a very sad and scary thought to have to admit to yourself. It's something that just couldn't replace a real relationship.

coachTanthony · Answer

It appears it has already begun. This body builder is all set to marry his female robot.  Check out the article.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

I would never feel good about having sex with metal and rubberized plastic. Why would I feel grateful when a robot says "I love you;" after all, that would simply be the result of programming. Why would I plan a surprise birthday party for a robot? Why would I buy her a Christmas gift?

Perhaps this will one day be technologically possibly, but that doesn't mean that it is what we should do.

mistixs · Answer

Robots don't have a soul, so...

SueShe · Answer

Perhaps that this technology would be the answer most women that have ever been harassed or misused are seeking. That would be the perfect solution to most human relation problems in the future.

Imagine, no more molesting, no more rape, no more STD/STI, no more BDSM, kinks and fantasies, no more cheating and friendzone, no more oral and anal perversions but only technology to take care of that dirty work that normally girls have to endure.

Personally, I hope that this technology develops rather sooner than later and that humans can live without the fear of one or the other gender but in harmony and without having to be sexual.

R_ūshī · Answer

Sleeping with a robot is equivalent to using a sex toy in my opinion.

Plus artificial wombs etc can also be used by couples who can't conceive or are having problems with it.

I hope that technology never makes relationships obsolete. I won't consider dating a robot as real dating if ever that happens.

I can see how it might happen but it feels a bit far fetched. Although, that's how revolutionary ideas feel like. So I don't know really about the feasibility etc but I'm not for this kind of novelty.

rjroy3 · Answer

If they get to the point of downloading consciousness into computers, then I might reconsider how I feel about it. Let's say you can upload a copy of your personality into a program and insert it into a robot with synthetic parts that feel like skin. A warmth layer and so on.

Then arguably it could be a passable alternative. But I see the biggest hill being social standing. I can't see a world where a man rolls with his sex robot and him not be looked downed upon widly by men and women. Even if it becomes more normalized. Numbers doesn't confer wide acceptance.

I think robots will get very close, but always have a level of "oh yea, you're a robot. I can tell for xyz reason". Kind of like watching the best of the best CGI movies right now. You can still tell

SomeGuyCalledTom · Answer

People who wish for technology to "replace" relationships are exactly the kind of people who need human relationships the most.

Besides, I'm more interested in how technology might supplement human relationships-- rather than replace them outright. For example, Skype was a godsend when i was in long distance relationship. So next logical step could be VR or augmented reality projects your significant other into your own living room when you're seperated by travel/ work/ long distance etc.

Technology has always functioned as an extension of human desires and needs. And the need for human connection is among our most deeply ingrained of all. Look at GaG itself-- a prime example of technologies converging together in the service of our primal need to connect.

MackToday · Answer

If such technology is developed it could make relationships obsolete but not quite in the way of sex robots etc. More like human immortality and asexuality no need to reproduce or take a mate at all. We get lonely because of our psychology. Once you start altering the DNA the creature may not even be capable of loneliness whether it's still a social animal or not. This is also how humans will become extinct possibly in the near future, they won't disappear but their humanness will. It is extinction but not in the way people think of it like getting hit with an asteroid or some such thing.

FatherJack · Answer

AI will be a male only market , as men typically desire sex far more than women ( not me anymore !! ) , esp younger men , and also there are more men than women worldwide , even with a more even gender ratio , it will always be much harder for a man to win over a woman , than vice versa , evolutionary biology at work , the female has a much greater reproductive role and risk. The potential benefits for women , well @SueShe , I think you nailed it. It is primarily women that choose to stay single and steer clear of the opposite sex , potentially no more " thirsty " men bugging women , win/win for everyone.

fashionguy17 · Answer

Good post. However, I feel that it's people USING technology to make relationships obsolete. What do I mean by that? First... let me start of by saying, that I don't need a girlfriend with the way things are set up right now. Here's why:

1. Every "model" out there is using technology for sexual purposes. They have onlyfans account. With onlyfans, they show off their nudes for a monthly fee and if you tip the model, they can make you personal videos.

2. Women are now selling their pussy on Snapchat. I have seen women use snapchat to sell sex and people actually meet up with them. Some women also have "cuddle sessions" or "GFE sessions". FYI - GFE mean Girlfriend Experience... so they allow you to talk with them about anything, cuddle and sex like it's a real relationship for a limited time and for a fee.

Obviously... I think that's a waste of money and since they go through so many men, I wouldn't want to catch an STD... but people actually do this.

Anonymous · Answer

I don't think the poll really addressed the primary issue here. Technology 'shouldn't' replace relationships because it can't provide the emotional fulfillment a real relationship can, and no robot will ever be able to adequately raise healthy children.

The real question is... WILL technology replace relationships? As you mentioned, marriage and committed relationships are becoming more costly for men and offering much less reward for men than they used to. As a result, in many cases I believe men will opt to forgo traditional relationships and having children because it's simply no longer worth the price of admission.

Long story short, for better or worse, I think technology will replace a large portion of traditional relationships in the future.

Gatman34 · Answer

That’s good hopefully it happens and it’s not all just talk. I feel like it’s just talk. The amount of desperate men I see still vastly outnumber the non desperate men just look at the majority of guys in here. Some guys in here literally said they would drive 6 hours just for sex. That’s peak desperation. I’m sorry but I think men will lose this game in the long run. Majority of guys are too desperate and pathetic nowadays. Us non desperate guys are in the minority

courtney06 · Answer

I don’t think it should replace it but I like for there to be the option. People can be cruel, or people just do things that hurt people unintentionally or unintentionally and not everyone gets over trauma that quickly, so it helps to have the option to do things without other people.

Cherokeehp · Answer

I don’t know if it’ll ever happen, maybe it will or maybe it won’t. I don’t really care if it does. I think that kind stuff is for sad people who can’t get a date. I’m pretty sure people in happy relationships with happy sex lives wouldn’t want to completely give up on human relationships.

D_Bone_Steak · Answer

I think it'd be fine, as long as the option for a relationship with a person in allowed.

I do take notice though that those that hate the idea for no reason may be doing so out of fear that they would lose that option to some machine... like they rely on a lack of options for others to give themselves options.

ImagineSketchy · Answer

I call these types of relationships, romances.
I can't say I care one way or the other. I've always said that humans will be the death of themselves, and I stand by that. It will come to fruition within 5 generations. I just wish I could be around to see it.

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

I think this idea should be reserved for people who want
a relationship with robots and want Children but no strings
attached to a real Human Being. I think someday this will
happen cause i believe both Women and Men are getting
tired of Relationships that fail after 2 years +

What do you think about technology making relationships obsolete?

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