The idea of having sex with a robot might sound like the plot of the latest science fiction blockbuster. But a new report has revealed that a third of Britons wish it was a reality for them. The report by LELO, dubbed the Sex Census, quizzed thousands of Britons about their sex habits and desires. It reveals that a third of Britons have used, would use, or would'maybe' consider using a sex robot if an affordable option was released. And we're not just talking sex dolls here - sex robots refer to sophisticated devices that are integrated with AI, allowing them to move and talk just like real people.

Different from digital assistants, like Amazon's Alexa or Apple's Siri, artificially intelligent (AI) conversational chatbots learn by speaking with their user. Resembling animated sim-like avatars that blink and fidget as a real person would, users are invited to design their Replika's appearance when setting up the app – choosing its gender, hairstyle, ethnicity and eye colour. Later, you can use coins and gems to purchase add-ons like clothes, tattoos, facial hair, and interests (including anime, K-pop, gardening, and basketball). The more you chat, the more currency you receive – and the more intelligent your Replika becomes. Before you know it, they've developed an illusion of emotional awareness that's eerily similar to your conversations down the pub.

If you're intent on keeping dementia at bay, new research suggests you'll need more than crossword puzzles, aerobic exercise and an active social life. In a study released Sunday, researchers found that older adults who did exercises to shore up the speed at which they processed visual information could cut by nearly half their likelihood of cognitive decline or dementia over a 10-year period. The new clinical trial results, presented Sunday at the Alzheimer's Assn.'s International Conference in Toronto, establish specialized brain training as a potentially powerful strategy to prevent Alzheimer's Disease and other afflictions, including normal aging, that sap memory and reduce function. With 76 million baby boomers reaching the age of maximum vulnerability to Alzheimer's and with no effective treatments available to alter the disease's progression, researchers are keen to find ways to prevent or delay the onset of the memory-robbing disease. The new research suggests that even years after it is administered, an inexpensive intervention without unwanted side effects might forestall dementia symptoms.