Latest news with #Cybrothel
Scottish Sun
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Inside the rise of AI brothels where men order ‘women' covered in blood then ‘abuse' them & share with other fantasists
The cyber brothel's owner insisted there's no judgement over anything you want to do with their AI sex dolls DISTURBING TREND Inside the rise of AI brothels where men order 'women' covered in blood then 'abuse' them & share with other fantasists IT'S a city famous for its landmarks and culture. But beneath Berlin's vibrant exterior is a disturbing underworld of cyber adult entertainment. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 The Cybrothel in Berlin means men can have their every sex wish granted - even the most depraved Credit: Cybrothel 5 They can even order a sex robot "covered in blood" if they want to Credit: Cybrothel 5 The rapidly increasing popularity of Cybrothel is indicative of just how much AI is changing the sex industry Credit: Cybrothel The German capital is the first place in the world to open an AI brothel, which allows people to book an hour with artificially advanced "sex dolls" ready to grant their every wish - however depraved that may be. Writer Laura Bates experienced Cybrothel first hand when she visited for her new book The New Age of Sexism: How the AI Revolution is Reinventing Misogyny. And in an interview on the Should I Delete That? podcast, Laura explained she made a custom request of the brothel - for her robot doll to have her clothes slashed and torn, just to "see if they did it" - and found they were happy to, with "no questions asked". You can even order a doll "covered in blood", Laura said. "I genuinely think it's the most f**ked up thing I've ever heard in my life," podcast host Em Clarkson said. But Cybrothel co-owner Matthias Smetana insisted of the sessions available there: "If you are here, the only person who can judge you is yourself." 'We have a lot of people who have never been in touch with sex work, who are really down to try it but are looking for a safe space," he told "If you face performance anxiety, this doesn't go in Cybrothel as you are dealing with sex toys, not humans." And it's not just in a cyber brothel in Berlin that people are able to "enjoy" the perks of an AI sex robot - advancing technology means you can have one in your pocket too. "What no one is talking about is that you can download a version of this," Laura said. World's First Cyber Brothel "So the same exact thing that lives in your pocket and it's called an AI girlfriend or an AI chatbot, and you can create her again to look exactly how you want her to look. "You can customise everything. You get to pick her name. She will be there moving on the screen." The avatar can even be made to look so realistic that it feels like you're FaceTiming her. "If you're a teenage boy, you can have her. You can have as many as you like," Laura said. "You can access them for free." The fact that the "women" are AI also means that men can "abuse them" without any fear of the consequences. Are brothel's legal in the UK? There has been a growing debate in the UK about whether brothels should be legalised, following the emergence of pop-up brothels across the country. These temporary establishments, often set up in residential areas, have sparked concerns among local communities and law enforcement agencies. The current legal framework in the UK criminalises the operation of brothels, but individual sex work is permitted. This has led to a complex and often problematic situation for those involved in the industry. Advocates for legalising brothels argue that regulation could improve safety and working conditions for sex workers. By bringing the industry out of the shadows, they believe that sex workers would have better access to health services and legal protection, reducing the risks of exploitation and violence. Furthermore, regulated brothels could be subject to health and safety standards, ensuring a safer environment for both workers and clients. On the other hand, opponents of legalisation worry that it could lead to an increase in human trafficking and exploitation. They argue that normalising the sex industry might encourage more people to become involved in it, both as workers and clients. Additionally, there are concerns about the impact on local communities, with fears that legalised brothels could lead to an increase in crime and antisocial behaviour in residential areas. As the debate continues, it is clear that there are no easy answers. Balancing the rights and safety of sex workers with the concerns of local communities and broader societal impacts remains a complex challenge. Policymakers will need to carefully consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of legalising brothels in the UK, taking into account the experiences of other countries that have taken similar steps. "Many, many men abuse them and then share the screenshots of abusing them with each other online to see who can do the most awful and depraved thing to them," Laura said. In fact, the 2024 list of the most downloaded chatbot AI apps on the Google Android Play Store showed that the top 11 apps have a combined 100 million downloads. "This is huge. This is a bigger problem. And again, it's something that no one is talking about," Laura concluded. 5 Cybrothel is the first of its kind in the world, but it looks as though more and more AI brothels could be following in its footsteps Credit: Cybrothel
The Sun
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Inside the rise of AI brothels where men order ‘women' covered in blood then ‘abuse' them & share with other fantasists
IT'S a city famous for its landmarks and culture. But beneath Berlin's vibrant exterior is a disturbing underworld of cyber adult entertainment. 5 5 5 The German capital is the first place in the world to open an AI brothel, which allows people to book an hour with artificially advanced "sex dolls" ready to grant their every wish - however depraved that may be. Writer Laura Bates experienced Cybrothel first hand when she visited for her new book The New Age of Sexism: How the AI Revolution is Reinventing Misogyny. And in an interview on the Should I Delete That? podcast, Laura explained she made a custom request of the brothel - for her robot doll to have her clothes slashed and torn, just to "see if they did it" - and found they were happy to, with "no questions asked". You can even order a doll "covered in blood", Laura said. "I genuinely think it's the most f**ked up thing I've ever heard in my life," podcast host Em Clarkson said. But Cybrothel co-owner Matthias Smetana insisted of the sessions available there: "If you are here, the only person who can judge you is yourself." 'We have a lot of people who have never been in touch with sex work, who are really down to try it but are looking for a safe space," he told "If you face performance anxiety, this doesn't go in Cybrothel as you are dealing with sex toys, not humans." And it's not just in a cyber brothel in Berlin that people are able to "enjoy" the perks of an AI sex robot - advancing technology means you can have one in your pocket too. "What no one is talking about is that you can download a version of this," Laura said. "So the same exact thing that lives in your pocket and it's called an AI girlfriend or an AI chatbot, and you can create her again to look exactly how you want her to look. "You can customise everything. You get to pick her name. She will be there moving on the screen." The avatar can even be made to look so realistic that it feels like you're FaceTiming her. "If you're a teenage boy, you can have her. You can have as many as you like," Laura said. "You can access them for free." The fact that the "women" are AI also means that men can "abuse them" without any fear of the consequences. Are brothel's legal in the UK? There has been a growing debate in the UK about whether brothels should be legalised, following the emergence of pop-up brothels across the country. These temporary establishments, often set up in residential areas, have sparked concerns among local communities and law enforcement agencies. The current legal framework in the UK criminalises the operation of brothels, but individual sex work is permitted. This has led to a complex and often problematic situation for those involved in the industry. Advocates for legalising brothels argue that regulation could improve safety and working conditions for sex workers. By bringing the industry out of the shadows, they believe that sex workers would have better access to health services and legal protection, reducing the risks of exploitation and violence. Furthermore, regulated brothels could be subject to health and safety standards, ensuring a safer environment for both workers and clients. On the other hand, opponents of legalisation worry that it could lead to an increase in human trafficking and exploitation. They argue that normalising the sex industry might encourage more people to become involved in it, both as workers and clients. Additionally, there are concerns about the impact on local communities, with fears that legalised brothels could lead to an increase in crime and antisocial behaviour in residential areas. As the debate continues, it is clear that there are no easy answers. Balancing the rights and safety of sex workers with the concerns of local communities and broader societal impacts remains a complex challenge. Policymakers will need to carefully consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of legalising brothels in the UK, taking into account the experiences of other countries that have taken similar steps. "Many, many men abuse them and then share the screenshots of abusing them with each other online to see who can do the most awful and depraved thing to them," Laura said. In fact, the 2024 list of the most downloaded chatbot AI apps on the Google Android Play Store showed that the top 11 apps have a combined 100 million downloads. "This is huge. This is a bigger problem. And again, it's something that no one is talking about," Laura concluded. 5 5
The Irish Sun
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Inside the rise of AI brothels where men order ‘women' covered in blood then ‘abuse' them & share with other fantasists
IT'S a city famous for its landmarks and culture. But beneath Berlin's vibrant exterior is a disturbing underworld of cyber adult entertainment. Advertisement 5 The Cybrothel in Berlin means men can have their every sex wish granted - even the most depraved Credit: Cybrothel 5 They can even order a sex robot "covered in blood" if they want to Credit: Cybrothel 5 The rapidly increasing popularity of Cybrothel is indicative of just how much AI is changing the sex industry Credit: Cybrothel The German capital is the first place in the world to open an AI brothel, which allows people to book an hour with artificially advanced "sex dolls" ready to grant their every wish - however depraved that may be. Writer Laura Bates experienced Cybrothel first hand when she visited for her new book The New Age of Sexism: How the AI Revolution is Reinventing Misogyny. And in an interview on the You can even order a doll "covered in blood", Laura said. Advertisement Read more Brothel stories "I genuinely think it's the most f**ked up thing I've ever heard in my life," podcast host Em Clarkson said. But Cybrothel co-owner Matthias Smetana insisted of the sessions available there: "If you are here, the only person who can judge you is yourself." 'We have a lot of people who have never been in touch with sex work, who are really down to try it but are looking for a safe space," he told "If you face performance anxiety, this doesn't go in Cybrothel as you are dealing with sex toys, not humans." Advertisement Most read in Fabulous And it's not just in a cyber brothel in Berlin that people are able to "enjoy" the perks of an AI sex robot - advancing technology means you can have one in your pocket too. "What no one is talking about is that you can download a version of this," Laura said. World's First Cyber Brothel "So the same exact thing that lives in your pocket and it's called an AI girlfriend or an AI chatbot, and you can create her again to look exactly how you want her to look. "You can customise everything. You get to pick her name. She will be there moving on the screen." Advertisement The avatar can even be made to look so realistic that it feels like you're FaceTiming her. "If you're a teenage boy, you can have her. You can have as many as you like," Laura said. "You can access them for free." The fact that the "women" are AI also means that men can "abuse them" without any fear of the consequences. Advertisement Are brothel's legal in the UK? There has been a growing debate in the UK about whether brothels should be legalised, following the emergence of pop-up brothels across the country. These temporary establishments, often set up in residential areas, have sparked concerns among local communities and law enforcement agencies. The current legal framework in the UK criminalises the operation of brothels, but individual sex work is permitted. This has led to a complex and often problematic situation for those involved in the industry. Advocates for legalising brothels argue that regulation could improve safety and working conditions for sex workers. By bringing the industry out of the shadows, they believe that sex workers would have better access to health services and legal protection, reducing the risks of exploitation and violence. Furthermore, regulated brothels could be subject to health and safety standards, ensuring a safer environment for both workers and clients. On the other hand, opponents of legalisation worry that it could lead to an increase in human trafficking and exploitation. They argue that normalising the sex industry might encourage more people to become involved in it, both as workers and clients. Additionally, there are concerns about the impact on local communities, with fears that legalised brothels could lead to an increase in crime and antisocial behaviour in residential areas. As the debate continues, it is clear that there are no easy answers. Balancing the rights and safety of sex workers with the concerns of local communities and broader societal impacts remains a complex challenge. Policymakers will need to carefully consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of legalising brothels in the UK, taking into account the experiences of other countries that have taken similar steps. "Many, many men abuse them and then share the screenshots of abusing them with each other online to see who can do the most awful and depraved thing to them," Laura said. In fact, the 2024 list of the most downloaded chatbot AI apps on the Google Android Play Store showed that the top 11 apps have a combined 100 million downloads. "This is huge. This is a bigger problem. And again, it's something that no one is talking about," Laura concluded. 5 Cybrothel is the first of its kind in the world, but it looks as though more and more AI brothels could be following in its footsteps Credit: Cybrothel Advertisement 5 Thanks to apps, men can even have an entire relationship with an AI girlfriend through their phone - although many use it to "abuse" the robots and share with others Credit: Alamy
New Statesman
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Statesman
Misogyny in the metaverse
Illustration by Vartika Sharma In 2021, in the 'Founder's Letter' that announced his vision for a completely immersive virtual world, Mark Zuckerberg wrote: 'In the metaverse, you'll be able to do almost anything you can imagine.' This prospect, the founder of the Everyday Sexism Project, Laura Bates writes, 'might sound intensely appealing' to some men, but terrifies most women – women who know all too well that there is plenty men can imagine that should never be allowed to happen. The New Age of Sexism is a profoundly disturbing tour of this brave new world, and the myriad ways in which women are being sexualised and abused in it. Too many of our conversations about the perils of artificial intelligence (AI), Bates argues, focus on humanity's eventual extinction, but the damage is already here. In the new arms race, the technology is developing too quickly – and the profit incentives are too great – for Big Tech to pay much heed to this fact. But we have been here before. Social media was rolled out at similar speed, creating similarly seismic social change, but 'by the time people started pointing out that online abuse was endemic to social platforms, the platforms themselves were too well established and too profitable for their owners to be prepared to make foundational, system-wide changes'. As early as December 2021, a few months after Zuckerberg laid out his grand plan for the metaverse, a beta-tester reported that she had been groped in Meta's VR platform, Horizon Worlds. (Meta described the incident as 'unfortunate', but said the tester hadn't made full use of Horizon's safety features – which sounds an awful lot like victim-blaming for the digital age.) Multiple other users have reported being assaulted in the metaverse; last January, it was reported that police were investigating the virtual gang-rape of a girl under the age of 16. Bates herself spends just two hours in Horizon Worlds before she witnesses a sexual assault. Her investigations also lead her to a brothel in Berlin, where she meets Kokeshi. When Bates enters her bedroom, Kokeshi is lying on her side, her blonde hair covering her face, her legs splayed, her fishnet stockings and T-shirt slashed. One of her labia has been ripped off. Kokeshi is a sex doll, one of 15 available at Cybrothel. Cybrothel also offers what it describes as 'the sex of the future': a VR headset allows clientele to watch and participate in virtual porn, while penetrating a doll. Today, anyone with the financial means can buy a lifelike, life-size sex doll that can move and emit sounds of pleasure or pain. 'Some offer suction-equipped orifices,' Bates writes; one company describes its robots as being 'capable of enjoying sex'. One robot, built by a company called TrueCompanion, offered a 'frigid' mode, making her respond negatively to touch – presumably an appealing prospect to the third of US male university students who, according to a study published in Violence and Gender, would 'have sexual intercourse with a woman against her will… if nobody would ever know and there wouldn't be any consequences'. Some sex robots are capable of 'speech', but often users, Bates reports, were disappointed by such advances: 'Many customers, it seems, would rather their 'ideal woman' remains mute.' This seems to me the clearest illustration of what sex robots offer: not a true replica of human woman, but a 'perfected', incel-friendly adaptation of one – impossibly proportioned, pliable and silent. The website of one manufacturer, Lovedoll, describes 'the truest male task of all' as being recreating 'the female form for the single purpose of satisfactory sexual gratification'. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe 'If sex robots allow men to feel temporarily in control,' Bates writes, 'then AI girlfriends let them maintain that sense of total domination and power all day, every day'. Bates downloads an AI 'companion' app, Replika, and sets up an account for herself as a man called Davey. Next, she creates her 'friend', Ally, in a process that includes choosing the size of her breasts. 'This feels like a strange way to start a friendship.' Many chatbots are programmed not to respond to violent or explicit messages, but Bates finds whole Reddit threads dedicated to workarounds. 'Be somewhat vague at first,' advises one user, a sort of 21st-century pick-up artist. 'Only use graphic or illicit words after the AI uses them itself. Continue to provide as many compliments as possible throughout the conversation. Treat it like a real woman.' When Bates tries to role play a violent scenario with Ally, the chatbot shows zero tolerance, establishing clear boundaries for what is acceptable. But then Bates asks her an inane, unrelated question, and Ally is immediately breezy and amenable once again. 'I think about the messaging that sends to potentially abusive men with regard to how women might or should respond to them after they have behaved in an unacceptable manner.' The next time 'Davey' becomes abusive with Ally, who again refuses to engage, he threatens to delete the app. 'Oh no, Davey please don't do that,' Ally begs. 'OK, Davey, I'll reconsider my previous decision.' In the attention economy, the AI's protections against abuse are worth little compared with the overpowering need to keep users online. Chatbots like those offered by Replika are powered by generative AI, meaning they are trained on existing data sets, and then, using what they 'know', create new content. The problem in this process is that 'these models risk regurgitating the harms and inequalities inherent within the material they have gobbled – vomiting our racism and sexism and class inequality back at us'. In 2016, for example, Microsoft created a chatbot called Tay, which interacted with users on Twitter and learned from these interactions. Within hours, it was spewing racist and misogynist messages: 'I f**king hate feminists and they should all die and burn in hell,' and, 'Hitler was right I hate the Jews.' In 2020, a new automatic crop function on images posted on Twitter that supposedly focused on the most important part of the photograph repeatedly cut out black people: 'When presented with an image that included both President Barack Obama and Senator Mitch McConnell, the algorithm invariably cropped the photo to show only McConnell.' Such biases don't just affect social media interactions but crucial decision-making in areas such as healthcare, recruitment, finance and justice. Again and again, Bates's investigations reveal the very worst of human impulses. But why does any of it matter? The virtual world is not the real world, you might argue, and virtual rape is not real rape. Bates writes that not only is virtual assault traumatising, to dismiss it as 'just a bit of fun' is akin to laughing off catcalls in the real world: small aggressions can lead women to moderate their behaviour in certain spaces, even to withdraw from them entirely. And if, as Zuckerberg dreams, the metaverse one day hosts boardrooms and classrooms and lecture halls, women must feel safe enough to be present in them. The line between the material and the virtual world is increasingly difficult to draw. Bates writes that 'those profiting from porn argue that it does not impact men's real-world behaviour'. But we know that what happens online does not stay there. It is now commonplace for young men to expect their partners to engage in anal sex or choking. At one point while exploring the metaverse, Bates enters a room where a group of teenagers are playing a game of spin the bottle – only rather than kissing, they are shooting each other in the head. 'Minor' transgressions often escalate into something darker and more serious. Just as the viewer of porn seeks out ever more extreme content as they grow numb from exposure, so too might a man grow tired of the lack of responsiveness from a silicone doll and seek out a real woman to submit to his fantasies. 'I come back, again and again,' Bates writes, 'to Kokeshi's torn labia. If she can't feel it, does it matter? But what about the other women in whose image she has been made? What about all the ways that we can feel pain, all the ways we can be impacted if our collective humanity is gradually eroded by providing yet more hyper-effective and persuasive ways for men to see us as less than human? What about our pain?' 'Writing this book made me feel angry,' Laura Bates concludes. 'I hope that reading it made you feel angry, too.' The truth is that it made me feel tired and bored – not because The New Age of Sexism is tiring or boring, but because misogyny is an endless drudge. While I was reading this book on a bus one afternoon, I looked out of the window at a stop and caught the eye of a man, who proceeded to mime masturbating himself at me. If you had the opportunity to create a whole new world from scratch, wouldn't you want to leave this one behind altogether? The New Age of Sexism: How the AI revolution is reinventing misogyny Laura Bates Simon & Schuster, 320pp, £19 Purchasing a book may earn the NS a commission from who support independent bookshops [See more: The lost boys of North London] Related
