Sex dolls and AI voices offer fantasy fulfillment in Germany

In the brothel, one can buy a night with Luna the vampire or one of the other silicone characters. With the help of AI voices, voice actors, and VR glasses, customers are offered the chance to live out their fantasies.

– I come here for new experiences. For example, there is a character named Frau Schmidt, which is a MILF character, says Felix, a recurring customer.

Record industry on the rise

Prostitution is legal in Germany and sex work is taxed and regulated by German authorities.

The global sex toy industry is growing rapidly. Last year, it generated 246 billion SEK. About as much as Iceland's gross national product.

Criticism of misogyny

The debate about dolls is growing as the dolls become increasingly realistic. Proponents argue that the dolls give people the chance to live out fantasies without anyone being exploited or harmed. Critics argue that the dolls contribute to sexism and misogyny.

Sex with new technology is a new research area and conclusions are few, but studies have been done on intimate touch with robots.

"You are not judged"

– The more they use technology, the more they lose the ability to learn to socialize and handle emotional reactions. They will be less willing to interact with real people, because the technology is simpler and you are not judged, says researcher Yuefang Zhou.

The feminist organization Mouvement du Nid has expressed criticism of sex doll brothels for promoting rape culture. "This is not a sex shop... it is a place where you rape a woman," spokesperson Lorraine Questiaux told media company Vice.

Employee Nic also sees signs of disrespect from some visitors.

– One can sense the disrespect customers have towards women in their daily lives through how they leave the room, she says.