Digital intimacy expands beyond Bengaluru as Tier-II cities catch up

For years, conversations around India's digital relationship landscape revolved around Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi. These cities led the country's adoption of dating apps, online communities and digital-first relationships. But a quieter shift is now underway. As AI begins to reshape how people seek companionship, intimacy and personal advice, India's emerging cities are displaying a growing comfort with technology in matters once considered deeply private.

The latest Gleeden-Ipsos study, conducted among 1,500 respondents across India, suggests that the country's next wave of digital relationship adoption may not come from the biggest metros at all. Instead, cities like Kochi, Coimbatore & Visakhapatnam are emerging as important digital relationship hotspots, reflecting a broader evolution in how Indians are choosing to explore emotional and intimate conversations online.

Bengaluru Still Leads, But It No Longer Stands Alone

The survey shows Bengaluru maintaining its position as India's most AI-forward city in matters of intimacy and relationships. Nearly 77% of respondents in the city said they would certainly or probably use AI to seek information on sex education and sexual health. Another 75% expressed openness to using AI to improve their erotic skills, while 67% would use it to discuss sexual fantasies or ask intimate questions. The city also recorded 67% willingness to engage in AI-powered erotic text conversations, 62% for fantasy-based visual content and 49% for personalised voice interactions.These numbers reinforce Bengaluru's reputation as India's digital trendsetter. However, the survey also reveals that the rest of the country is catching up much faster than many would expect.

The most notable shift is unfolding across Kochi, Coimbatore and Visakhapatnam, where AI is increasingly being viewed as a safe, private and judgement-free space for conversations around intimacy. Among the three cities, Visakhapatnam emerges as the strongest challenger. Around 62% of respondents said they would use AI for sex education and sexual health information, 60% were open to AI-enabled erotic text conversations and 58% would explore AI-generated fantasy visuals. More than half (53%) were comfortable discussing sexual fantasies with AI, indicating a growing trust in technology for deeply personal conversations.

Coimbatore follows closely behind, with 52% of respondents willing to use AI to share sexual fantasies or ask intimate questions, 50% open to seeking sexual health information and 49% interested in using AI to solve sexual wellbeing concerns. Nearly half (47%) also expressed interest in AI-powered erotic conversations, highlighting how digital companionship is becoming increasingly normalised beyond metropolitan India.

While Kochi records comparatively lower adoption levels, the city still reflects a meaningful behavioural shift. Around 45% of respondents are willing to use AI for erotic conversations as well as to discuss sexual fantasies, 43% would seek sexual health guidance, while around 40% would rely on AI to address sexual wellbeing concerns. In a category that barely existed a few years ago, these numbers point towards growing digital confidence even in smaller urban centres.

Privacy Is Becoming the Common Language

The narrowing gap between Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities is not simply about technology adoption—it reflects changing social attitudes. AI offers anonymity, personalised responses and freedom from social judgement, making it easier for users to ask questions or discuss topics they may otherwise avoid. This broader trend is reflected nationally as well. Across India, 68% of respondents said they would use AI for sex education and sexual health information. Around 61% would discuss sexual fantasies or ask intimate questions through AI, 55% would use it to solve sexual concerns, while 56% would rely on it to improve their erotic skills. Rather than replacing human relationships, AI is becoming an extension of them, providing a confidential space for exploration, education and self-expression.

India's Next Digital Relationship Story Is Becoming More Inclusive

The findings suggest that the future of digital intimacy will no longer be shaped solely by India's largest technology centres. While Bengaluru continues to set the pace, emerging cities are demonstrating that openness towards AI-powered relationship experiences is becoming increasingly mainstream.

"Bengaluru continues to lead India's adoption of AI for intimate and relationship-related conversations, but what is equally significant is the momentum we're seeing beyond the traditional technology hubs. Cities like Visakhapatnam, Coimbatore and Kochi are embracing AI as a private, judgement-free space for conversations around intimacy, emotional wellbeing and relationships. This signals a broader cultural shift where digital confidence is becoming more evenly distributed across India, expanding the country's digital intimacy landscape far beyond Tier 1 cities," said Sybil Shiddell, Country Manager, Gleeden India.

India's digital relationship economy is no longer a metro-only story. As AI becomes more personal, accessible and conversational, the country's Tier 2 cities are steadily narrowing the gap with their Tier 1 counterparts, proving that the next wave of digital intimacy will be defined not by geography, but by growing comfort with technology and changing social attitudes.