Indians are using AI as an astrologer:’Tell me my kundali, when will I get married?’ is a common prompt

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a search tool. Globally, it has evolved into a productivity partner for coding, writing, and research. However, in India, AI has taken on a much more personal role—acting as a trusted advisor. A study by Dainik Bhaskar, which analysed the top 10 questions and prompts across major AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Grok, reveals a stark contrast. While global users treat AI as a utility tool, Indian users view it as a tutor, career guide, translator, and personal counselor. This unique Indian adoption pattern is driven by a young population, competitive exams, linguistic diversity, and growing digital dependence. According to Silicon Valley venture capital firm Menlo Ventures, out of 1.7 to 1.8 billion AI users globally, around 500 to 600 million use these tools daily. The AI Landscape: Meta Leads the User Base Meta AI currently dominates the global user base, followed closely by OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. (Source: Sensor Tower, Reuters) AI as a Priest, Teacher, and Clerk in India In India, AI is stepping into roles traditionally held by humans: The Priest (Grok): Among the top 10 questions in India are queries like, “Tell me my horoscope/kundali, when will I get married?” The Smart Shopper (Gemini): A significant number of Indian users ask the AI to find the best smartphone within a ₹20,000 budget. The Clerk (ChatGPT): Users are frequently asking the AI to draft formal complaint letters to resolve electricity bill issues. Global vs. India: How the Top 5 Uses Compare Global: Top 5 Uses Learning Understanding: Simplifying complex topics in science, history, and other subjects (ranks in the top 2 on all platforms). Writing Editing: Drafting or refining professional emails, resumes, and reports (ranks in the top 3 globally). Coding Assistance: Writing code and debugging (ranks No. 1 on Claude and Grok). Summarization: Extracting key insights from long documents and PDFs. Creative Work: Writing stories, poems, and scripts. India: Top 5 Uses Advice Decisions: Asking life-related questions like, “What should I do?” Exams Careers: Requesting study plans for competitive exams like UPSC, JEE, NEET, and banking. Language: High demand for Hindi-to-English and English-to-Hindi translations. Investments Government Schemes: Seeking help with SIPs, mutual funds, ITR filing, and information on government welfare schemes like ‘Ladli Behna’ and ‘PM Kisan’. Personal Life: Seeking advice on horoscopes, arranged marriages, and family disputes. “Earlier, people relied on the advice of elders, friends, and neighbors to solve life’s problems. However, weakening relationships and rising individualism are leaving people lonely.This AI usage pattern in India is a direct reflection of this social shift. We are moving toward a new social fabric where personal preferences are paramount. As a result, even while living in families, our relationships with spouses, relatives, and neighbors are weakening. This is the same social transition that the West experienced much earlier.” -Prof. Anand Kumar, Retired Professor of Sociology, JNU