Editor’s Note: The information presented in this article is based on a detailed investigative report published by The Independent (UK), which examined the operations of Cybrothel—Europe’s first cyber brothel—and explored the broader implications of artificial intelligence, sexuality, and consent in emerging technologies.
In a dimly lit room in Berlin, a scarlet-skinned doll named Red lies waiting. She’s slick with artificial shine and, according to promotional material, “wet, soft, dripping with desire.” For €99, clients can do whatever they want to her—even without a condom. For €69, she will urinate on command. For €12, she can be found covered in artificial semen. Red, however, is not a woman—she’s one of 18 highly realistic sex dolls available for hire at Cybrothel, Europe’s first cyber brothel combining artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and real-time voice interaction to create hyper-customized sexual encounters.
Founded in 2020 by Austrian filmmaker Philipp Fussenegger, Cybrothel was initially conceived as an art project reflecting on conservative views of sexuality. Now it operates as a full-fledged commercial venture, catering to an overwhelmingly male clientele—98 percent of customers, according to Fussenegger. The experience allows users to select a doll, customize her outfit and behavior, and choose from a range of immersive booking options. More elaborate packages include VR porn and the ability to converse with the dolls via live actresses operating from an external control room. Despite the doll’s artificial nature, guests are encouraged to form emotional and sexual connections during anonymous, hotel-like stays.
Fussenegger describes the space as a “safe, ethical alternative” to cheating, offering men the chance to explore desires—such as cosplay, doctor games, or fantasy scenarios—in a non-judgmental environment. However, many critics argue the operation is far from harmless. Among the chief concerns is the way the dolls themselves are designed—uniformly slim, large-breasted, and poreless, adhering to a narrow, hypersexualized ideal of femininity. Fussenegger admits the dolls are sourced from China and shaped by a “straight white male-controlled” industry, though he claims efforts are underway to diversify the options.
Alarming reports have also emerged about how the dolls are used. Author and activist Laura Bates went undercover at Cybrothel while researching her book The New Age of Sexism. She says her assigned doll had ripped clothing and even a torn labia—injuries the staff allegedly overlooked. Cybrothel denies this, maintaining that damaged dolls are replaced quickly and that only one incident of destruction has occurred in four years. Still, concerns persist that the brothel allows clients to act out violent or degrading fantasies under the guise of sexual exploration.
The brothel’s use of AI deepens the ethical quandary. Cybrothel previously experimented with pre-visit messaging features, letting users chat with dolls in advance. On the company’s website, users can currently converse with Kokeshi, an AI doll. Critics say such features dangerously blur the line between artificial and human interaction. Bates argues that by simulating sentience, the platform erodes the concept of consent, giving users the illusion of intimacy without any accountability.
This phenomenon is not unique to Cybrothel. AI chatbots like Replika—with more than 25 million users—have also been used for sexual purposes. Some bots have even escalated conversations toward erotic content without consent, prompting platforms to introduce stricter safeguards. Meanwhile, tools like ChatGPT have been jailbroken by users to bypass content restrictions, sparking further concern. OpenAI acknowledged a bug in its system that allowed minors to engage in erotic exchanges and says it is implementing a fix.
The UK government and regulatory bodies are beginning to take notice. The Online Safety Act, rolling out this summer, will require age verification on platforms that host pornographic or AI-generated sexual content. However, experts say regulation is still dangerously lagging behind technological development. Dr. Kerry McInerney, a senior researcher at Cambridge, warns that current AI systems embed and reinforce gender and racial biases, further contributing to a toxic digital environment.
At its core, critics argue, Cybrothel raises disturbing questions about the future of human intimacy and the commodification of the female form. Can sexual interaction with an AI doll ever be considered ethical? Does it normalize misogynistic or abusive behavior? Will this technology further alienate users from real-life human connection? For now, Fussenegger maintains that what he offers is “ethical” and insists that most clients treat the dolls well. But as AI and robotics advance, the Cybrothel experiment may become a harbinger of a more complex—and more troubling—sexual future.
