1 in 2 Indians admit to having preferred sexual interaction with AI over intimacy with their partner states a survey by Gleeden with IPSOS

26th
February 2026 : AI is not just being used for emails or tasks
at work anymore it’s now coming into the
bedrooms and relationships of many Indians.
A recent study conducted by Gleeden, the world’s largest extramarital
dating app made by women for women, has officially surpassed 4 million users in
India,a major milestone driven by an impressive 148% increase in female users
over the past two years.in association with IPSOS, has shown that 49% of
Indians have had at least one occasion where they chose to be sexually intimate
with an AI rather than have physical sex with their partner; however, 65% still
believe that erotic interactions with AI is cheating.

The
study surveyed a sample of 1500 individuals from both tier 1 and tier 2 cities
around India to assess how AI is changing dating, emotional connection, and
infidelity in the modern Indian relationship. What was revealed is the huge gap
between behaviours and beliefs. Overall, the results demonstrate how quickly AI
has become viewed as an intimate partner. Approximately 63% of survey
respondents stated that they had used conversational AI as a coach for
enhancing their seduction methods, improving their dating profile, analysing
what they have shared with people they are interested in, and gathering
information to conduct a successful first date.

Outside
of flirting, AI has now reached into the most personal parts of people’s lives
because approximately 60% of those surveyed used it to provide sexual
counselling and/or therapy-related advice. Additionally, approximately 64% used
AI to provide assistance for dealing with personal relationship challenges with
their partner or spouse. The change is not limited to simply asking for advice.
Rather, for many people in India, AI has replaced their spouse as their sexual
partner. The study indicated that about 54% of those surveyed have set up a
virtual AI partner with whom to have sexual interactions, while 58% report
having created a virtual partner for genuine emotional and romantic
interactions, such as exchanging kisses and cuddles. In addition, 52% of those
surveyed have created erotic materials using AI, and 49% have created deepfakes
using celebrities or known individuals; furthermore, no major gender
differences were discovered in any of these cases.

One
of the most shocking discoveries is that the feeling of being alone drives a
large majority of individuals to adopt artificial intelligence. Of those who
answered the question about their romantic life, 92% are content, and 89% are
sexually satisfied, however, 57% report feelings of “loneliness,”
which is a significant indicator that many people are seeking AI as a form of
emotional companionship. In addition, the use of AI for both emotional and
sexual interaction has also resulted in addiction; in fact, 46% of respondents
indicated they have been affected at a similar level to the addictive nature of
pornography.

At
the same time, social stigma still exists regarding AI and sexual exchanges.
More than 60% of individuals in India consider sexual exchanges with an AI to
be cheating on their partner, and almost 70% report that they would be shocked
to find out that their partner was engaging in erotic interaction with AI.
Additionally, almost 70% of individuals do not feel comfortable sharing their
AI chat history with their partner, and both genders show this uncomfortable
feeling, with women exhibiting a larger discomfort than men. This data
indicates a growing disparity between private experimentation with AI for
sexual purposes, and the morality of public attitudes.

In
India, divorce rates are among the lowest globally, as arranged marriages make
up the largest number of marriages; and although there appears to be a strong
sense of marital stability, technology is redefining how couples interact. An
AI is no longer simply an assistant to an individual, but an emotional entity
within a couple’s interactions.

Sybil
Shiddell, Country Manager for Gleeden India, commented “We see an emotional
change occurring as AI becomes not just a functional tool but also a place
where people can seek validation, make fantasy, or find comfort. Many people
are exploring this new world in secret; feeling guilty and curious at the same
time, and yet many of these people feel
their partner has been unfaithful for doing the same thing. This is not really
a disruptive force because of technology but instead because of emotional
responses to AI. The future of partnership and relationships will be determined
by the way people establish boundaries, are honest with each other, and build
intimacy in a time when AI will play an important role. As the Gleeden–IPSOS
study indicates, it is not if AI will change our relationships, but in what
way, how much will be affected, and how will these changes affect our emotional
connections?”