MAM
Reality bites: why consumers are fleeing into fantasy
MUMBAI: The age of generative everything has left consumers feeling decidedly unregenerated. While 53 per cent of people now use AI in their daily lives—rising to 70 per cent among Gen Z—a curious counter-revolution is brewing. People are rationing their screen time, ditching algorithmic recommendations, and investing heavily in stuffed toys. Welcome to 2026.
dentsu Creative’s newly released trends report, Generative Realities, paints a portrait of humanity caught between digital acceleration and analog yearning. The research, which surveyed 4,500 consumers across seven markets including the US, UK, India, Spain, Brazil, China and Japan, suggests we’re simultaneously sprinting toward the future and scrambling back to the past.
The numbers tell a schizophrenic story. Some 32 per cent of respondents admit AI sometimes understands them better than friends and family. Yet 55 per cent are sick of algorithms serving up the same tedious content, and 40 per cent find the online world so stressful they’re actively switching off.
“We see a new balance emerging between acceleration and deceleration,” says dentsu clobal chief creative officer Yasu Sasaki. “People crave both the hyper-real and the handmade, the digital and the deeply human.”
Indian consumers are leading the charge on fandom, with 65 per cent identifying themselves through the communities they follow—the strongest such identity globally. Meanwhile, 70 per cent of consumers worldwide say modern life feels so stressful they need to escape, fuelling what the report calls Escape Velocity—a flight into fantasy, collectibles and the all-conquering power of cute.
The traditional is having its moment too. Three-quarters of consumers feel drawn to spending more time in nature, while 64 per cent are attracted to traditional values and ways of living. Fungi, fermentation and pickles are having their day, alongside silent book clubs, sober raves and “dumb” devices that don’t connect to anything.
“AI is evolving faster than any technology before it, but human creativity remains the constant,” notes dentsu Creative global president Abbey Klaassen. “The most successful brands in 2026 will be those that blend technological intelligence with emotional intelligence.”
For India specifically, dentsu Creative & Media Brands, chief executive officer for south Asia Amit Wadhwa sees opportunity in the collision. “The opportunity for brands in 2026 is to bring these two forces together—to use technology to scale what is deeply human, and to let India’s cultural diversity shape the next wave of creativity.”
dentsu Creative global chief strategy officer Pats McDonald who led the report’s development and served as Cannes Lions Creative Strategy jury president this year, insists there’s method in the apparent madness. “Some of those trends may seem frivolous or faddy at first glance—adult collectibles or daytime coffee raves—but speak to a profound human need for connection, comfort and community.”
The report identifies five macro themes: Escape Velocity (fantasy and fandom), Electric Dreams (AI intimacy), Trad Lives (nature and tradition), Alone Together (new forms of socialising), and Analog Futures (the rejection of digital sameness).
The message for brands? Stop assuming people want more of what algorithms think they want. In a world where 51 per cent now turn to AI for questions they’d previously ask friends and family, and 63 per cent spend vast amounts of time alone, the real innovation might just be helping people reconnect with texture, friction and each other.
After all, when the machines get too smart, humans get nostalgic. And right now, nostalgia is selling like handcrafted, fermented, hyperlocal hotcakes.
Brands
Philips Avent appoints Yami Gautam Dhar as brand ambassador
New campaign urges parents to choose science-backed sterilization over traditional boiling.
MUMBAI: Indian parents have long believed that boiling baby bottles keeps germs at bay, but Philips Avent is gently suggesting it’s time to turn up the heat on that tradition with science. Philips has launched a new campaign highlighting the importance of sterilization in infant care, positioning its Philips Avent Sterilizer as a more effective solution than the age-old practice of boiling. The campaign, which also announces acclaimed actor and new mother Yami Gautam Dhar as the brand ambassador for Philips Avent in India, draws on a powerful cultural insight: the deep-rooted Indian tradition of protecting children from the evil eye (nazar).
The film cleverly connects familiar customs such as using salt, chillies, applying a black tika, or evil eye bracelets with modern parenting realities. While these traditions offer emotional comfort, the campaign gently points out that they may not be enough to protect against germs and infections. Backed by a recent survey, Philips claims the Avent Sterilizer delivers up to 2X better germ protection compared to boiling, along with fewer reported illness episodes among infants.
Philips Personal Health, Country Head Shukla said many parents still rely on boiling without realising the difference in effectiveness. “Our survey findings indicate fewer reported infant illness episodes in homes using the Philips Avent Sterilizer. With this campaign, we want to empower parents with knowledge and solutions that combine science with care,” he noted.
Welcoming Yami Gautam Dhar, Shukla added that as a new mother herself, she brings authenticity and relatability to the message, balancing trusted traditions with informed choices.
Yami Gautam Dhar said motherhood makes every decision feel significant. “Learning about proper sterilization was an important part of my journey. The Philips Avent Sterilizer offers up to 2x better germ protection compared to boiling, making everyday baby care safer and easier. I’m proud to partner with a brand that supports parents in making informed choices.”
The Philips Avent Sterilizer is available across leading e-commerce and quick commerce platforms including Amazon and Firstcry, major baby care retailers, and select electronics stores across India.
In a country where protecting little ones is both a cultural duty and a daily ritual, Philips Avent is serving up a modern twist: keep the love, add the science because when it comes to germs, a little extra protection can go a long way.
