While AI-powered sex robots are as yet merely a theoretical possibility, rapidly progressing technologies make them a realistic possibility in the not too distant future. Can they serve a positive function as tools of sexual education for the intellectually disabled? Too often, cognitive competence is used to gatekeep fundamental sexual rights, and the intellectually impaired are treated as children incapable of consent or responsible behavior. A recent article analyzes the responses of 12 Chinese social workers experienced in working with this population. Practitioners recognized robots as tools to bypass parental opposition and institutional liability by eliminating risks of pregnancy and exploitation. The authors argue for a multidisciplinary governance framework that prioritizes ‘techno-social’ literacy and challenges the sexual ableism inherent in current service models.
Can AI Sex Robots Help Adults with Cognitive Disabilities?
