Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 11: As sleep-related issues continue to rise in India, a new report reveals that nearly 52% of people are turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered voice assistants to help establish and maintain effective sleep routines.
The research, conducted by YouGov in collaboration with Amazon Alexa, examines sleep habits across 1,000 respondents from 10 cities in India. The findings highlight a growing trend of using voice assistants, particularly among individuals aged 35-45 years, to enhance their sleep routines. This group showed a significantly higher usage of voice assistants than those aged 25-34 years.
One key takeaway from the study is that 53% of participants reported sleep problems when they failed to stick to a consistent bedtime routine. However, 54% of respondents saw a noticeable improvement in sleep quality once they adhered to a regular schedule.
Teena Sidana, Country Manager for Alexa India, commented, “Sleep routines are becoming increasingly popular, and what's exciting is how smart technologies, particularly voice assistants like Alexa, are playing a crucial role in helping people maintain these routines. Personalised AI-driven experiences are proving to be effective alternatives to using handheld devices before bed.”
She further explained that Alexa can facilitate various sleep-related activities such as playing meditation tracks, soothing sounds, audiobooks, or music. Additionally, users can set alarms, reminders, and even control their environment with smart home devices like lights, air conditioners, or curtains. Alexa’s flexibility allows users to customize their sleep routines easily via the Alexa app according to their individual needs.
The study also revealed that households with couples and children are increasingly incorporating voice assistants into their bedtime practices. 45% of respondents use voice assistants for activities like playing music, podcasts, ambient sounds, or audiobooks. Additionally, 23% rely on voice assistants for setting alarms and reminders, while 22% use them to control smart appliances such as bedroom lights, automated curtains, or air conditioners.
Looking to the future, more than 50% of respondents expressed interest in integrating wellness activities like meditation, journaling, light exercises, and skincare routines into their nightly habits. Couples, especially those with children, showed a keen interest in adding meditation and journaling as part of their pre-sleep regimen, with 32% indicating they would like to explore these practices further.
The report underscores the growing role of AI-based voice assistants in enhancing daily routines, offering a more convenient and personalized approach to improving sleep and overall well-being.