India has an average interest of 51% in technology

According to the IPSOS’s Global Advisor online survey platform of 2023, 31 countries were surveyed. The focus of the survey was to find out how people across these countries feel about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and expect it to impact their lives. The survey threw up some interesting facts and figures.

On average across the 31 countries surveyed, two-thirds say they have a good understanding of what AI is, but only half say they know what products and services use AI. Knowledge of which products and services use AI is higher among younger adults, men, those who are employed, more educated, and/or more affluent.

In a typical pattern, familiarity with AI-powered products and services ranges from over 70% in Indonesia and Malaysia to just 35% in Belgium, New Zealand, and the United States. Reported understanding of AI has increased over the past 18 months, particularly in Europe, but familiarity with which products and services use AI has not.

Mixed feelings and increased nervousness

• Globally, only about half agree that products and services using AI have more benefits than drawbacks (54%) and are excited about them (also 54%).
• However, about the same number (52%) are nervous about them, up 13 points from 18 months ago.
• Excitement is highest in emerging markets and lowest in Europe and North America; it is also higher among Gen Z, and Millennials, as well as the college-educated.
• Nervousness is highest in all predominantly Anglophone countries and lowest in Japan, Korea, and Eastern Europe.

 Wide geographic differences in trust

• Trust in AI varies widely by region; it is generally much higher in emerging markets and among people under 40 than in high-income countries and among Gen Xers and Boomers.
• People’s trust that companies using AI will protect their personal information ranges from 72% in Thailand to just 32% in France, Japan, and the US.
• The percentage of people who trust that AI will not discriminate against groups of people shows an even wider spread across countries.

Just half say AI has impacted their life in the past few years

• Globally, just half (49%) say that AI-based products and services have significantly changed their daily lives in the past 3 to 5 years, about the same percentage as in December 2021.
• In South Korea and across Southeast Asia, the percentage feeling this way is about 35 to 40 percentage points higher than most countries across North-western Europe and North America.
• On average, at least 20 points higher among Gen Z, and Millennials than Boomers.

2 in 3 expect it will soon change it profoundly

• On average, 66% agree that AI-powered products and services will significantly change their daily life in the next 3-5 years, including majorities in all countries (from 82% in South Korea to 51% in France) and all demographic groups (but especially among the more affluent and those with a college education).
• Among workers, 57% expect AI to change the way they do their current job and 36% expect it to replace their current job.
• The percentage of workers expecting major disruptions is highest in Southeast Asia and lowest in Northern Europe (with differences of up to 50 points) and is also much higher among those who are younger and/or decision-makers than among those who are not.

 AI and my job

This data is a breakdown of global averages of Gen Z’s interest in technology by country, gender, generation, income level, education level, and employment status.

By country

• The global average interest in technology is 34%.
• Thailand and Indonesia have the highest interest in technology at 62% and 58%, respectively.
• India, Brazil, Singapore, and Malaysia have an average interest in technology of 51%.
• Mexico has an interest in technology slightly below the global average at 48%.
• Peru, Colombia, South Africa, Turkey, South Korea, Romania, Great Britain, Chile, Poland, Italy, Argentina, New Zealand, Germany, Netherlands, Australia, Hungary, Ireland, Spain, France, US, Japan, Sweden, Canada, and Belgium have an interest in technology below the global average.

By gender

Men Gen Z have a higher interest in technology than women Gen Z, with an average interest of 37% compared to 31%.

AI and the economy

The global average interest in technology among Gen Z is 34%. Thailand and Indonesia have the highest interest in technology at 62% and 58%, respectively. India, Brazil, Singapore, and Malaysia have an average interest in technology of 51%. Mexico has an interest in technology slightly below the global average of 48%.

The remaining countries have an interest in technology below the global average. The countries with the lowest interest in technology are the United States, Japan, Sweden, Canada, and Belgium, all of which have an interest in technology of 20% or lower.

AI and the job market

The global average percentage of people who believe artificial intelligence (AI) will create more jobs than it destroys is 32%. However, there is significant variation between countries, with Peru, Mexico, Thailand, and Turkey having the highest percentages (54%, 54%, 53%, and 50%, respectively), and the United States, Australia, Germany, Canada, and Belgium having the lowest percentages (20%, 20%, 20%, 19%, and 18%, respectively).

There is also a gender gap in beliefs about the impact of AI on the job market, with men more likely to believe that AI will create more jobs than it destroys (34%) than women (30%). Gen Z are also more likely to hold this belief than older generations (39%).