Futurologist Dr. Ian Pearson believes that intimacy between humans and automatons could begin as early as next year and will be commonplace by 2030.

The expert is convinced that wealthy women will invest in cyborg companions to bring fresh excitement between the sheets and says that many could even fall in love with them.

Dr. Pearson wrote in his report 'The Rise of the Robosexuals': "People will still have reservations about sex with robots at first, but gradually as they get used to them and the AI improves, that squeamishness will rapidly evaporate."

The boffin thinks that the introduction of sex robots into our lives should be considered as a positive development.

He said: "(Sex robots will) make the emotional barriers even lower, take away remaining guilt, improve mental health, and people will get even more from their lives."