Addressing scores of top ethicists, sexologists and AI developers at the Third International Congress on Love and Sex with Robots, Dr Levy explained how stem cells can be manipulated to create and embed an embryo with human and robot genes.

“Suddenly the very real possibility has appeared on the horizon of the robots of the future manipulating human skin cells to create human sperm and human eggs, and from them … creating an entire human baby whose embryo can be nurtured and carried through pregnancy by a mother surrogate,” he said in his final remarks.

But striking cautionary tone, Dr Levy, author of Sex and Love with Robots, said his radical conclusions could have “absolutely catastrophic” consequences for humanity.

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GROUNDBREAKING: Dr David Levi delivering his radical speech at the sex robots conference

When fielding questions from the audience, Dr Levy was asked if genetic engineering of the kind he described could be used to create a new species of human-robot hybrids with specific physical attributes.

In reply, Dr Levy mused over the possible implications of his findings, including the threat of terrorists exploiting the technology for despicable ends.

Governments of the world, he said, need to step in and introduce laws regulating research into genetic engineering before it is too late.