October 21, 2026 · 9 min read
Which Countries Are Most Excited About AI Companions? Nigeria, India and the 2026 Ipsos Data
India (83%) and Nigeria (82%) lead a 21-country Ipsos survey on excitement about AI companionship; the US is lowest at 25%. Full ranking and what it means.
If you live in Lagos, Mumbai or Dubai, the idea of talking to an AI companion probably does not sound strange at all. If you live in Chicago, Toronto or Paris, it might still raise an eyebrow. That is not just a hunch anymore. A 21-country survey published in 2026 put numbers on it, and the gap between countries is huge.
This guide walks through what the survey found, which countries are most and least excited about AI companionship, why the split might exist, and what it means if you are curious about trying an AI companion yourself.
The short answer: In an Ipsos survey for Google, reported in Stanford HAI's 2026 AI Index, 52% of adults on average across 21 countries said they were at least somewhat excited about using AI for companionship. Excitement was highest in India (83%), Nigeria (82%) and the United Arab Emirates (78%), and lowest in the United States (25%), Canada (33%) and France (38%). Nigeria had the largest share of people who were "extremely excited" (29%).
Where the numbers come from
The figures come from a survey Ipsos ran for Google, published in 2026 and featured in the AI Index Report 2026 from Stanford's Institute for Human-Centered AI (figure 9.2.10, "Excitement about using AI for companionship"). The data-tracking site AI Adoption charted the country results on October 19, 2026 and published the underlying data file, which is what we used for every number below.
Two things are worth knowing before you read the table:
- Only the "excited" answers are in the data file. People could also say they were not that excited, not excited at all or did not know, but those shares are not included. So the table shows how many people were excited, not the full spread of opinion.
- There is a known discrepancy for the US. AI Adoption notes that the AI Index highlights text gives 42% for the United States, while the data file and the report's own chart show 25% (4% extremely, 5% very, 16% somewhat). We use 25%, the figure from the data.
The full country ranking
Here is the share of adults in each country who said they were at least somewhat excited about using AI for companionship, with the breakdown. Totals are the sum of rounded figures, so one or two may be a point off the published total.
| Country | Extremely | Very | Somewhat | At least somewhat excited |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 27% | 32% | 24% | 83% |
| Nigeria | 29% | 36% | 17% | 82% |
| United Arab Emirates | 22% | 24% | 32% | 78% |
| South Africa | 20% | 21% | 29% | 70% |
| South Korea | 7% | 19% | 41% | 67% |
| Mexico | 13% | 25% | 27% | 65% |
| Singapore | 9% | 17% | 39% | 65% |
| Brazil | 14% | 21% | 20% | 55% |
| 21-country average | 10% | 16% | 26% | 52% |
| Germany | 8% | 16% | 25% | 49% |
| Poland | 7% | 16% | 26% | 49% |
| Argentina | 7% | 15% | 25% | 47% |
| Ireland | 7% | 12% | 28% | 47% |
| Spain | 7% | 14% | 26% | 47% |
| Australia | 7% | 13% | 22% | 42% |
| Italy | 4% | 9% | 29% | 42% |
| Japan | 2% | 9% | 31% | 42% |
| United Kingdom | 7% | 12% | 21% | 40% |
| Belgium | 7% | 10% | 23% | 40% |
| France | 5% | 9% | 24% | 38% |
| Canada | 5% | 9% | 19% | 33% |
| United States | 4% | 5% | 16% | 25% |
Source: Ipsos for Google (2026), via Stanford HAI AI Index 2026 and the AI Adoption data file.
Three patterns that stand out
1. Nigeria is the most enthusiastic, not just excited
India edges Nigeria on the total (83% vs 82%), but look at the intensity. In Nigeria, 29% said they were extremely excited and another 36% very excited. That means about two in three Nigerian adults in the survey were very or extremely excited about AI companionship. No other country came close on that measure. India was next with 59% very or extremely excited.
2. The English-speaking West is the most cautious
The United States (25%), Canada (33%), the United Kingdom (40%) and Australia (42%) all sit below the global average. Only 4% of Americans said they were extremely excited. The AI Index text, as quoted by AI Adoption, also reports that 36% of Americans and 34% of Canadians said they were "not excited at all".
This is interesting because the US is also where many AI companion apps are built and where a lot of the public debate about them happens.
3. Japan is quiet but curious
Japan had the smallest "extremely excited" group of any country (2%), yet 42% were at least somewhat excited, the same total as Australia and Italy. The AI Index text notes that 18% of Japanese respondents answered "don't know". Japan is also home to some of the most-studied companion users. A 2026 study of 14,721 Japanese adults found small but real well-being differences among companion users, which we covered in are AI companion users happier?.
Why might excitement differ so much?
The survey itself does not explain the gaps, so treat the ideas below as possible reasons rather than findings.
- Optimism about technology in general. Countries with fast-growing, young, mobile-first populations often report more optimism about new tech. India, Nigeria, the UAE and South Africa all sit at the top here.
- Different starting points. In places where AI companions have been heavily debated in the media, especially the US, people may already associate the idea with headlines about lawsuits, safety and data. That can make "excited" feel like the wrong word even for people who are curious.
- What "companionship" means. In some cultures, companionship naturally includes a wide circle of family, friends and community, and an AI might be seen as one more voice in that circle. In others, the word may suggest replacing people, which feels more threatening.
- Loneliness and lifestyle. Long commutes, city moves, work abroad and late-night schedules are common in fast-growing cities. People who already live much of their social life on their phones may find it easy to picture an AI in the mix.
Whatever the reason, the headline is clear: worldwide, about half of adults are at least somewhat open to AI companionship. The cautious countries are the exception, not the rule.
Excitement is not the same as use
It is worth separating how people feel about an idea from what they actually do. Surveys of real use tend to show smaller numbers than surveys of interest.
For example, a University of Iowa survey of 1,000 US adults in October 2026 found that 76% use AI in some form, but only 12% of AI users said they use it for companionship. We dug into that and other research in why it is easier to talk to AI than to people. For a wider set of usage and revenue figures, see our AI companion statistics for 2026.
So even in the most cautious country, a meaningful minority are already using AI for some kind of company, and in the most excited countries, interest is far ahead of what most people have tried.
What this means if you are curious
If you are in a country where AI companionship is common to talk about, you might feel comfortable trying it openly. If you are in a more sceptical country, you might worry about what friends would think. Either way, a few things hold true:
- You are not unusual. Across 21 countries, more than half of adults are at least somewhat excited about the idea. We wrote about the social side in is it normal to have an AI companion?
- Your reasons are your own. Some people want a fun, flirty chat. Others want someone to text at 2am, a way to practise a language, or a warm voice after a long shift.
- Pick an app that is honest with you. Look for clear pricing, an adults-only policy, a plain statement that the companion is an AI, and privacy settings you can understand.
| If you want... | Look for... |
|---|---|
| Someone who checks in on you | An app that texts first and remembers what you said |
| Real conversation, not just text | Voice and video calls with a natural-sounding voice |
| Something that fits your life | Support for your language and the apps you already use |
| No nasty surprises | Clear prices, a free way to try it, easy cancellation |
Where MyBabe fits
MyBabe is a relationship-first companion app for adults (18+): you create your own girlfriend or boyfriend in about three minutes, choosing their look, three personality traits, their voice and a backstory. They text you first, send voice notes and selfies from their day, and pick up by voice or video when you call.
They follow your language too. Text in French, German, Arabic or Spanish and they answer the same way. With Premium they remember things long-term, months later, including how you felt about them, and they can live in your Telegram with the same memories.
You can start free with 10 messages every 24 hours and two minutes of voice or video calls to try. Premium is $5.99 a week, $14.99 a month or $99.99 a year, with long-term memory, about 30 minutes of calls a week, four photos a day and Telegram. On MyBabe's relationship journey, couples who reach the Amber cycle get early access to every new feature, so the earlier you start, the further along your story is when the next one lands.
MyBabe is an AI, not a real person, and it does not replace human relationships or professional mental health support. If you are curious what all the excitement is about, meet your companion on MyBabe.
FAQ
Which country is most excited about AI companions?
In the Ipsos survey for Google reported in the 2026 AI Index, India had the highest share at least somewhat excited (83%), just ahead of Nigeria (82%). Nigeria had the highest share extremely excited (29%).
Which country is least excited about AI companionship?
The United States, at 25% at least somewhat excited, followed by Canada (33%) and France (38%).
What is the global average?
On average across 21 countries, 52% of adults said they were at least somewhat excited about using AI for companionship: 10% extremely, 16% very and 26% somewhat.
Why does the US figure differ between sources?
AI Adoption notes that the AI Index highlights text gives 42% for the US, while the data file and the report's chart show 25%. We use the data-file figure.
Does excitement mean people actually use AI companions?
No. Interest is usually much higher than use. In a University of Iowa survey, 12% of US AI users said they use AI for companionship.