Advertisement
Robotics
WorldUnited States & Canada

‘Robot brothel’ gets no satisfaction as Houston moves to block opening

Houston’s City Council on Wednesday updated one local ordinance to specifically ban individuals from having sex with an ‘anthropomorphic device,’ a device that resembles a human being, at a sexually-oriented business

2-MIN READ2-MIN
Houston council members have moved to keep a brothel that uses sex dolls out of the Texas city. Pictured is the ‘skull’ of an AI sex doll robot (foreground) and a sex doll (background) in Shenzhen, China, in March. Photo: EPA-EFE
Associated Press

A Canadian company’s plan to open a “robot brothel” in Houston has been short-circuited by city leaders.

Houston’s City Council on Wednesday updated one local ordinance to specifically ban individuals from having sex with an “anthropomorphic device”, a device that resembles a human being, at a sexually-oriented business. But the change would not ban the company from selling the dolls for use elsewhere.

Advertisement

The company, KinkySdollS, had previously said it wants to open a “love dolls brothel” in Houston in which people would be able to use its human-like dolls at a business that has drawn comparisons to the robotic hosts on the science fiction series Westworld.

It would have been the company’s second location. The first location opened in 2017 in Toronto. On its website, the company says it provides an “adult love dolls rent before you buy service”.

Advertisement

On its website, KinkySdollS says its human-like dolls, which can speak and feel warm to the touch, are available for sale or rent. The dolls can cost more than US$3,000 each.

Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x