Methodology
What data did we use?
To estimate AI girlfriend adoption by city, we compared how often people search for AI girlfriend-related terms against the size of the local population.
The ranking was calculated using: Total Q1 2026 search volume (January to March) for AI girlfriend-related keywords ÷ Population = Interest Per Capita (IPC). The city with the highest IPC (Stoke-on-Trent) is assigned an index score of 10. All other cities are scored as (City IPC ÷ Max IPC) × 10.
Data sources: Google Keyword Planner, Q1 2026 (January to March average). Population figures reflect Google Ads-reachable audiences.
The primary dataset covers 35 cities. These were selected as the largest UK urban populations by Google Ads-reachable audience size, as smaller cities tend to return suppressed or zero search volumes for niche terms like AI girlfriend-related keywords, making per capita comparisons unreliable below a certain population threshold.
Supplementary data: AI vs Human Connection
A second analysis was conducted across 73 UK cities to compare the balance between AI companionship searches and real human connection searches. This dataset could be expanded beyond the initial 35 because the search terms used (such as "meetup near me" and "singles events near me") generate sufficient volume even in smaller cities, making the per-city split meaningful at a broader geographic level.
A second analysis was conducted across 73 UK cities to compare the balance between AI companionship searches and real human connection searches. This dataset could be expanded beyond the initial 35 because the search terms used (such as "meetup near me" and "singles events near me") generate sufficient volume even in smaller cities, making the per-city split meaningful at a broader geographic level.
Important note: The population figures used in this study reflect Google Ads-reachable audiences rather than official census populations. Rankings are designed to compare relative levels of interest between cities, not exact adoption numbers.
1
Stoke-on-Trent
Scores a Perfect 10
Stoke-on-Trent tops the AI Girlfriend Index with a score of 10, the highest interest per capita of any city in the UK. It outperforms cities many times its size, including London (25th), Manchester (23rd) and Birmingham (28th), suggesting AI companionship adoption has little to do with city size or economic status.
2
London
Falls Mid-Table Despite Its Size
London ranks just 25th out of 35 cities on a per capita basis, despite generating the highest raw search volume of any city by far. With a population of 44.6 million in Google's reachable audience, even strong absolute search numbers are diluted per capita. This gap between volume and adoption rate shows how misleading raw numbers can be without normalising for population.
3
Glasgow
Leads the UK for Choosing AI Over Human Connection
In a separate analysis comparing AI companionship searches against real human connection searches, 92.9% of Glasgow's relevant searches are for AI rather than meetups, singles events or social clubs. Edinburgh follows at 91.4% and Cambridge at 91.2%, making Scotland and university cities the clearest adopters of AI over human companionship.
4
Doncaster
Britain's Most Romantically Human City
Doncaster bucks the national trend hardest, with 66.7% of its companion searches being for real human connection rather than AI. It is followed by Wells (62.5%) and Kingston upon Hull (60%), suggesting that smaller northern and rural cities are holding out longest against the AI companionship shift.
5
AI Girlfriend
Interest Has Grown Every Year Since 2023
Google Trends data shows UK search interest in AI girlfriend-related terms has grown consistently year on year, with an average index score of 13 in 2023 rising to 87 so far in 2026. The term barely registered before 2023, and 2026 is currently tracking as the biggest year on record.
6
Bigger Cities Are Not Driving Adoption
-
Birmingham (28th), Cardiff (31st), Edinburgh (34th) and Exeter (35th) all rank in the bottom 10. The data consistently shows that AI girlfriend adoption per capita is highest in mid-sized cities, not the UK's largest economic or tech hubs.
Key Findings
City Leaderboard
Which UK cities are leading the AI romance trend?
Search volumes reflect interest in specific AI companion platforms and terms. As a niche and emerging category, absolute volumes are modest, but the per capita pattern reveals a clear and consistent geographic trend.
Curiosity Map
Click the interactive map to view cities
AI vs Human
Connection
Are UK cities choosing AI over real human companionship?
How we measured this
We pulled average monthly search volumes across 73 UK cities for an equal number of AI companion terms and human connection terms (5 each) via Google Keyword Planner, then compared the percentage split. Using matched term counts on both sides prevents either category from having a structural advantage.
AI companion terms
Replika
virtual girlfriend
virtual boyfriend
AI chat
AI friend
Source: Google Keyword Planner, Q1 2026. Analysis across 73 UK cities.
92.9% AI
Glasgow
91.4% AI
Edinburgh
91.2% AI
Cambridge
90.0% AI
Sheffield
89.8% AI
Wrexham
89.6% AI
Aberdeen
Most Socially AI-Dependent Cities
66.7% HUMAN
Doncaster
62.5% HUMAN
Wells
60.0% HUMAN
Hull
57.1% HUMAN
Exeter
57.1% HUMAN
Newcastle
55.6% HUMAN
Derby
Most human cities
Human connection terms
speed dating near me
singles events near me
social clubs near me
meet people near me
meetup near me
Speak to an
AI search expert
Will Tombs is the Founder of Buried. He’s an award-winning growth marketing specialist and expert in SEO and GEO, with over 12 years’ experience in the industry. Will has led digital strategy for startups that have gone on to be acquired, international enterprise retailers, and his own e-commerce businesses.