04 September,2026 02:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Image for representational purpose only. Photo Courtesy: File pic
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly becoming part of everyday life, but in India's Tier-1 cities, its role appears to be moving beyond work, entertainment and information. It is increasingly entering conversations around sex, fantasies, sexual wellbeing and virtual experiences.
A study conducted earlier this year by Gleeden in association with IPSOS among 1,500 respondents shows significant openness towards using AI for intimate purposes. The findings from Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad reveal that urban Indians are not merely experimenting with AI, they are beginning to explore how it can fit into their most private spaces.
When it comes to seeking information on sex education and sexual health, the survey shows that 77 per cent of Bengaluru respondents said they would certainly or probably turn to AI, followed by 75 per cent in Delhi, 72 per cent in Mumbai and 67 per cent in Hyderabad. But Delhi becomes even more prominent when the conversation shifts from information to imagination. It added that 76 per cent of Delhi respondents said they would use AI to share sexual fantasies or ask intimate questions. Bengaluru follows at 67 per cent, while Mumbai stands at 62 per cent and Hyderabad at 55 per cent. The numbers suggest that AI is increasingly being perceived as a private space where questions that may otherwise be difficult to ask can be explored without hesitation.
AI is also finding a place in conversations around sexual wellbeing. The survey said 67 per cent of respondents in Delhi said they would use AI to solve sexual problems such as libido issues or lack of sexual satisfaction. The figure stands at 58 per cent in Hyderabad, 57 per cent in Bengaluru and 63 per cent in Mumbai. When it comes to improving erotic skills, however, Bengaluru takes the lead at 75 per cent, followed by Delhi at 73 per cent, Mumbai at 65 per cent and Hyderabad at 59 per cent. This points towards two distinct ways people are using AI: as a source of answers when something feels wrong, and as a tool for exploring or improving intimacy.
The willingness to experiment becomes more visible when AI enters the realm of virtual sexual experiences. The survey says 55 per cent of Hyderabad respondents said they would certainly or probably use AI to masturbate with virtual pornstars, compared with 50 per cent in Delhi, 48 per cent in Bengaluru and 44 per cent in Mumbai. For celebrity avatars, Delhi leads at 53 per cent, followed by Hyderabad at 50 per cent, Bengaluru at 45 per cent and Mumbai at 40 per cent. AI-generated experiences involving people known to the user also see considerable openness: 57 per cent in Delhi, 52 per cent in Bengaluru, 50 per cent in Hyderabad and 42 per cent in Mumbai said they would consider such experiences.
Sexual games involving a companion or adult chatbot attract interest from 52 per cent of Bengaluru respondents, the highest among the four cities. Hyderabad follows at 47 per cent, Delhi at 49 per cent and Mumbai at 35 per cent. Similarly, 58 per cent of Delhi respondents were open to masturbating to pornographic images or videos of people aligned with their preferences. The corresponding figures were 46 per cent in Hyderabad, 44 per cent in Mumbai and 41 per cent in Bengaluru.
As Sybil Shiddell, country manager, Gleeden India, says, "AI is increasingly becoming a private space for people to explore questions, curiosity and fantasies that they may not always feel comfortable discussing openly. What stands out in these findings is how differently people across Tier-1 cities are engaging with AI - from seeking sexual health information to exploring virtual experiences. It shows that AI is becoming part of the evolving conversation around intimacy itself."
The numbers paint a clear picture: Delhi is particularly open to intimate questions and fantasy, Bengaluru stands out for erotic exploration and sexual games, Hyderabad shows strong interest in virtual experiences, while Mumbai, although comparatively more measured, still records substantial openness across categories. For India's Tier-1 population, AI is no longer simply something people use. Increasingly, it is something they are willing to confide in, experiment with and explore intimacy through.
