How will we love?

ever before has the future of our emotional and sexual relationships been more exciting, promising and turbulent than they are today. New products are advertised that satisfy unconventional sexual fantasies, both in physical and virtual reality. Worldwide networking enables the dissemination of alternative models of love and sexuality, which are increasingly accepted by the general public. Have recent developments in new technologies and social media fundamentally changed our relationships and our sexuality? To what extent do they influence our ideas of love?

In this short video Karolin reads from the book “Future Love - Die Zukunft von Liebe, Sex und Familie” by Matthias Horx. The video is in German but the translation (and transcript) are below.

‍

Video translation:

Can technology change the way we approach sex and relationships? And what are the consequences of its usage in our society? A doll as a substitute partner? What would these new ways of experiencing the love of our humanity take and how would these interactions affect real sex and love and take over our perceptions and emotions in the long run? Will love with robots be as normal as love with other people so that machines and artificial intelligence will be the answer to people's intimacy problems. Will experiences with robots alienate us from real encounters and meaningful relationships?

Will we come back to REAL SEX in the end (2070)?? After we have gone through all the experiments and feel that the old-fashioned way gives the most pleasure.

Digitization and globalization challenge the complexion of love. The way we love has changed and will continue to change. Love adapts to social conditions. However, the digital ubiquity of sex and pornography leaves deep scars in the tenderness that love needs to grow and stay. That scares me... Karolin x

The main image is of Computer-generated AI bot' Lil Miquela' who has 1.5 million Instagram followers. She has graced the pages of Vogue and Wonderland magazine and done Insta-takeovers for Prada Credit: INSTAGRAM