Digital transformation of the industry: how Cybrothel in Berlin is redefining the future of sex work

The world of sex trade is undergoing a groundbreaking transformation, with its epicenter in Berlin. The emergence of advanced AI and robotics technologies in this sector is no longer science fiction – it is a reality observed by experts, entrepreneurs, and industry workers. The brothel in Berlin is being transformed into a digital sexual experience laboratory, raising both questions about the future and serious ethical dilemmas.

Innovative business model transforming the traditional brothel in Berlin

Cybrothel represents the first example worldwide of comprehensive digitalization of this business. In rented apartments, where traditional services once operated, there are now life-sized erotic dolls with provocative names – Bimbo or Mrs. Schmidt. These objects, though immobile, are connected to an advanced virtual reality system.

Customers have access to four experience options:

• Physical interaction with realistic dolls
• VR set treatments with 4D pornography
• Conversations via AI-based sexting system
• Combinations of the above in arranged apartments

Co-owner of the enterprise, Matthias Smetana, sees this model as the future of the industry. His team is currently working on enhancing the dolls – adding responsiveness to touch and real speech. Smetana perceives the Berlin brothel as a symbol of evolution, where robotics and artificial intelligence are changing the nature of sexual experiences.

Artificial intelligence versus tradition: voices from the industry

Attracting clients to Cybrothel proves effective for both seasoned sex workers seeking novelty and for newcomers. Smetana explains: “Here, the only judge is yourself. We welcome people who have never interacted with sex workers but want to try without pressure or judgment. If you’re worried about your abilities, it doesn’t matter here – you’re dealing with a toy, not a human.”

However, industry perspectives are not uniform. Emma Bennet, managing the traditional Onyxx brothel in Townsville, Australia, expresses skepticism about this concept. Her clientele desires authentic touch and human closeness, not “science-fiction sex.” “They want human to human – that’s the only kind of real sexual interaction,” Bennet says. In her view, clients will not pay for direct sex with AI if genuine emotions and skin-to-skin contact are absent.

Market transformations and future forecasts

Data shows that the number of sex industry workers in Germany has decreased by 30 percent compared to pre-COVID-19 times. Smetana believes this trend will accelerate. “Within 10-15 years, traditional clients will disappear. The industry will move towards a hybrid – simultaneous engagement in digital and physical spheres, where VR becomes a natural extension of the experience,” he predicts.

However, this vision is contested by sexuality experts. Alice Child, a sexologist from Sydney, believes that AI brothels can offer exploration without judgment. She also warns against completely replacing human intimacy with algorithms.

Ethics, intimacy, and the reality of the digital future

Alice Child emphasizes a fundamental paradox: “A judgment-free space is paradoxically a place devoid of sensitivity. Sex is inherently a state of vulnerability. If you avoid intimacy through prolonged AI use, you may ultimately prevent yourself from experiencing true, human intimacy with another person.”

Her concerns point to a deep difference between access and development – technology can democratize experiences but also distance people from real interactions. The Berlin brothel as an innovative model raises questions not only about the future of business but about the fundamental nature of human desire, intimacy, and the social norms surrounding sexuality.

The future of sex trade seems to be heading towards increasing digitalization, but experts’ and industry insiders’ voices suggest it will not be a complete transformation – rather a coexistence of tradition and technology, where both sides compete for the attention of clients seeking authenticity.