In the minds of ongoing discussions on digital intimacy, Carlotta Rigotti presented preliminary findings on the regulation of sex robots through the AI Act. On 27th and 28th June 2024, Carlotta participated in the Global Digital Intimacies conference hosted by the University of Amsterdam. This international event brought together cross-disciplinary scholars to explore the multifaceted nature of digital intimacy, encompassing affect, labor, and the ways it shapes human and non-human relationships.
At the conference, Carlotta presented a draft paper co-authored with Eduard Fosch-Villaronga, focusing on the intersections between sex robots and intimacy within the framework of the newly adopted AI Act. Their research highlights how the AI Act will play a pivotal role in shaping the future regulatory landscape for sex robots, addressing crucial legal, ethical, and social challenges posed by the integration of AI into these human-like systems. Given the multidisciplinary nature of the audience, Carlotta's presentation was followed by a dynamic Q&A session. During this discussion, she invited participants to engage with critical terms from the AI Act, such as 'harm', 'deception', and 'obviousness', which are both nebulous and significant for the future regulation of sex robots.
For those interested in the evolving field of digital and technology-mediated intimacy, as well as its implications for policymakers and interdisciplinary scholars, stay tuned for Carlotta and Eduard's upcoming publications and insights.
