Generative artificial intelligence has not yet won over users at large

Generative artificial intelligence tools are still struggling to find their audience. While ChatGPT is the best known and most widely used generative AI tool, frequent use of it is still rare. In fact, a recent survey reports that just 1% are using it on a daily basis in Japan, rising to 2% in France and 7% in the US.

Artificial intelligence is already revolutionizing the daily lives of many people, but it’s not yet drawing the crowds, according to a report entitled “What Does the Public in Six Countries Think of Generative AI in News?”, published by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ) at Oxford University, UK.

While ChatGPT is undoubtedly the best-known generative AI tool in the world (more than half of those surveyed have heard of it), far ahead of Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot, its use remains rare. For example, only 1% of people in Japan say they use ChatGPT on a daily basis. US respondents lead the way, with a (still low) user rate of 7%. In France, the figure falls to 2%.

As for the overall population having already used ChatGPT at least once, it ranges from 22% in Japan to 35% in Denmark. In France, 27% of respondents have already used the AI tool, but almost half only used it once or twice, just to see. Unsurprisingly, these figures are lower for less well-known tools like Gemini (from 6 to 14%, depending on the country) or Copilot (from 6 to 12%).

Obviously, there are major disparities according to age, with younger people being more familiar with these new technologies. Overall, 56% of 18-24 year-olds have already tried ChatGPT at least once, with 9% of this age group reporting using it every day. This proportion falls progressively with age, with only 16% of over-55s having tried ChatGPT.

In terms of uses, averaged over the six countries, 28% of those surveyed have already used generative AI to create content (text, images, video, audio, code, etc.) and 24% have used it primarily to obtain information (factual questions, advice requests, summaries, etc.).

While the majority of people believe that generative AI will undoubtedly have a significant impact on almost every sector of society in the next five years, there is still significant reticence when it comes to people taking a close interest in the technology now. At last count, ChatGPT claims some 200 million (more or less active) users worldwide.

The survey was carried out online by YouGov, on behalf of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ) at Oxford University, from March 28 to April 30, 2024. Each of the six countries involved (Argentina, Denmark, France, Japan, the UK and the US) has a representative sample of the local population of just over 2,000 participants. – AFP Relaxnews