Dear AI, This is Awkward

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.

Delhi Says, “Let’s Ask AI”

When it comes to seeking information on sex education and sexual health, 77% of Bengaluru respondents said they would certainly or probably turn to AI, followed by 75% in Delhi, 72% in Mumbai and 67% in Hyderabad. But Delhi becomes even more prominent when the conversation shifts from information to imagination. 76% of Delhi respondents said they would use AI to share sexual fantasies or ask intimate questions. Bengaluru follows at 67%, while Mumbai stands at 62% and Hyderabad at 55%. 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.

Dear AI, This Is Awkward…

AI is also finding a place in conversations around sexual wellbeing. 67% 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% in Hyderabad, 57% in Bengaluru and 63% in Mumbai. When it comes to improving erotic skills, however, Bengaluru takes the lead at 75%, followed by Delhi at 73%, Mumbai at 65% and Hyderabad at 59%. 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.

Bengaluru Isn’t Just Coding Anymore

The willingness to experiment becomes more visible when AI enters the realm of virtual sexual experiences. 55% of Hyderabad respondents said they would certainly or probably use AI to masturbate with virtual pornstars, compared with 50% in Delhi, 48% in Bengaluru and 44% in Mumbai. For celebrity avatars, Delhi leads at 53%, followed by Hyderabad at 50%, Bengaluru at 45% and Mumbai at 40%. AI-generated experiences involving people known to the user also see considerable openness: 57% in Delhi, 52% in Bengaluru, 50% in Hyderabad and 42% in Mumbai said they would consider such experiences.

The Fantasy Has Gone Digital

Sexual games involving a companion or adult chatbot attract interest from 52% of Bengaluru respondents, the highest among the four cities. Hyderabad follows at 47%, Delhi at 49% and Mumbai at 35%. Similarly, 58% of Delhi respondents were open to masturbating to pornographic images or videos of people aligned with their preferences. The corresponding figures were 46% in Hyderabad, 44% in Mumbai and 41% 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.”

Four Cities, Four Flavours of Digital Intimacy

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.