Robots ‘will be commonplace in homes by 2050’

Robots will be commonplace in our homes by 2050 - with ‘android rights’ such as being treated with respect, an expert has predicted.

The machines may even have to be PAID for their services, as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly advanced, Dr Ian Pearson says.

Dr Pearson, a fellow of the British Computer Society and the Royal Society of Arts and Commerce, has looked into the future of robots .

He predicts that, in just over 30 years, most Brits will have robots cooking and cleaning for them - with ‘billions’ of the machines worldwide.

He also says there will be ‘rights’ in place.

Dr Pearson believes that, as AI develops, robots will “become commonplace” in our homes - and that central heating will become a thing of the past.

Instead, he predicts “smart heating” will take over - where humans are kept warm by “directed infrared beams”, which adjust body temperatures.

Dr Pearson, who predicted the invention of the text message, was commissioned by AO.com to look ahead at home appliances and robots.

He reckons that, in future decades, the average Brit will also have ‘customisable’ home decor - which they can change with the flick of a switch.

And by 2075, he predicts we won’t even need to clean anymore, as electro-active polymer fabrics are invented which ‘vibrate to shake dirt loose’.

The dirt will then be hoovered up by robot drones, he believes.

Amazingly, the futurologist at Futurizon also predicts that in under 60 years time, 3D printers will make food, so we won’t have to go to supermarkets.

Speaking this week, Dr Pearson said: “Technology has come on leaps and bounds in the past few years alone and in only 10 years time we can expect our homes to have been completely transformed by technology. I can guarantee that our household appliances will not be as we know them today.”

He added, “By 2030 most appliances will be networked, so today’s latest smart features like being able to see what’s in your fridge from the office will be commonplace.

“Ovens and microwaves will talk to food packaging to get cooking instructions, as well as displaying augmented reality cooking guides for humans.

“Smart heating will heat the person, not the room, using directed infrared beams or smart fabrics.

“Huge wafer-thin, high-res displays that can be viewed from any angle will occupy large areas of wall space, and often substitute for windows and paintings.

“Augmented reality will allow fully customisable home décor.

“Smart packaging and appliances will make routine food prep easier, while augmented reality could make virtual chefs to guide you through a new recipe.”

Dr Pearson predicts that, by 2050, drones will clean every aspect of our homes and ‘active skin’ will create ‘full sensory virtual reality’ when gaming.

He said, “By 2050 androids will do most of the cooking and will even have rights, they will have to be treated with respect and possibly paid.”

And just 25 years later, he predicts that Brits will be able to ‘print their own food’ with 3D printers.

There are currently around 60million robots in the world. But Dr Pearson predicts that by 2050 there will be a robot population of 9.4billion worldwide - around five per cent more than the human population.

The latter currently stands at 7.6billion, but by 2050, is estimated to be around 9 billion.David Lawson, the managing director of AO.com , said: “We aim to provide our customers with the latest in appliance technology.

Mirror