As with most technological advancements throughout human history, one of the first thoughts people have is almost always, “can we get some sex involved here?” Books, art, film, the internet, they’ve all featured porn and sex almost as soon as possible. That might be why Japanese mobile phone company SoftBank has decided to warn users of their new robot, Pepper, and how lewd acts will not be tolerated.
According to AFP, SoftBank has included some very odd language in Pepper’s user agreement that lends to the idea that the company believes people will grow to want to bang their units:
Mobile phone giant SoftBank, which sells the units in Japan, states helpfully in its user agreement: “The policy owner must not perform any sexual act or other indecent behaviour…Other clauses prohibit using Pepper to send out spam email but the ban on sex with the plastic machine — which stands just 120-centimetres (four feet) and moves on rollers — is the most baffling, causing social media in Japan to light up in amazement.
While SoftBank wants Pepper to behave like a good little robot and not a spicy sex-bot, the fine print is somewhat ambiguous, with some people taking it to mean customers are not barred from physical relations with the droid, just from using it for “improper purposes”.
I’m not entirely sure what this robot would be able to do, but I guess it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the needs and desires of your customer base. It’s entirely possible that you could bond with Pepper to the point that emotions take you and then you’d probably wish you’d have been warned beforehand. If only you’d have framed these rules before you started chatting with Pepper and giving it wine coolers.