Looking for love? Dutch researcher David Levy may have an answer for you. He has made a prediction that by year 2050, humans will fall in love with – and marry – robots. And, what’s more, he foresees that Massachusetts will be the first state to make robot-human marriages legal. The state must be so proud to be included.

This may sound like some streetwalking soothsayer’s guess. But get this – Levy, the man who made this prophecy, just did his Ph.D. thesis on “the subject of human-robot relationships,” according to Fox News.

OK, it still sounds like a television psychic who happens to have a diploma.

But Levy’s supposed research actually raises a point worth thinking about, though not necessarily the one he intended.

In the future, robots may become a substitute for love.

Think about how obsessed Americans are with the concept of love – real or otherwise. Shows like “I Love New York” and “The Bachelor” are numerous and popular. And movies usually have to include some romantic theme to do well in the box office.

Women’s magazine covers invariably say things like “Top Ten Ways to Get a Guy.”

Online dating services have millions of subscribers who get on every day in search and hope of love or something that resembles it.

On Facebook, you can see any number of groups where guys bemoan their lack of girlfriends. And the looking for field is right up top with your name and other basic information. Most people’s say a relationship or random play. See? Love. Or something superficially like it.

Americans are in love with the idea of love. Not with love itself. So whatever form it comes in, bring it on. If it fulfills us for a lifetime, great. But if it’s only for a month or a week or half an hour, so be it.

If we’re so dependent on superficial love, why not artificial? It might just be the next step. The lonely or the bored can buy themselves a humanoid robot for temporary companionship or intimacy. And the great thing about it is, unlike a two-day fling, the robot is there until it breaks or you resell it.

There might even be a robot-human dating show sometime in the future. A robot version of “The Bachelorette,” maybe. Can you imagine 12 men competing for a female robot’s attention? Don’t tell me your interest isn’t a little piqued.

The other reason America could very well focus on humanlike robots in the future, especially romantically, is our love of customization.

One of the top fast-food chains in the country says “Have it your way.” Dell just came out with a laptop in eight colors. Pick which one resembles you. Many products, such as towels and jewelry and iPods, are customized for each buyer. People are even interested in picking and choosing genes to customize their own children.

So far, customization has been limited in dating shows and get-your-man magazines. Enter the robot. Robots will be programmed for their purpose, for their owner. Completely customizable.

Will people really fall in love with robots? Well, some may, just as someone out there is in love with a dog or a dishwasher or a spoon. However, it won’t be a commonplace thing.

It does seem more and more possible that we will substitute robot affection for love. According to MSNBC, “Henrik Christensen, founder of the European Robotics Research Network, predicted that people will be having sex with robots within five years.” Robots are already being made to look more human-like.

Who needs another human being when you’ve something more convenient, customizable and on the cutting edge of technology? Forget Match.com. You’ve got a personalized humanoid robot. And that’s all the love you need.

&#8212 Bailey Lewis is a sophomore in English from Indianola.