New research from Google and Ipsos shows that the use of AI is on the rise in South Africa, with more adults using technology for learning, work and personal decision-making.
The report titled Our lives with AI: Useful This shows that 70% of adults in the country have used an AI chatbot, an increase of 25 percentage points from 2023 and above the global average. Nine out of 10 respondents said they were interested in learning more about AI, pointing to a strong demand for AI literacy.
Google South Africa country director Kabelo Makwane says people are moving from experimentation to addiction. He said users see AI as a tool to support learning, work and new opportunities across a variety of fields.
The findings suggest that AI is increasingly being used in education and career development. Most respondents say AI helps them learn new concepts and understand complex topics, and a similar proportion believe it will be useful in the workplace. More than half use AI for day-to-day support such as planning and problem-solving, but many also use it to explore new business ideas, change jobs, and make major life decisions.
Public sentiment toward AI in education is largely positive. A majority of people believe that AI is improving the way people learn and access information, and that schoolchildren, university students, and educators are also likely to benefit. Most people who are already using AI for learning and schoolwork report a positive impact on their learning.
The study also shows that people who have had first-hand experience with AI are more optimistic. Most respondents said they were more excited about AI’s potential than worried about the risks, with optimism rising among frequent users and those who said they were knowledgeable about the technology.
Respondents expect both technology companies and governments to play a role in managing the development of AI. While many people express confidence that technology companies will deploy AI responsibly, a small but significant proportion say they trust government oversight. People are divided on whether to prioritize regulations that protect affected industries or encourage innovation in areas such as science and medicine. It also supports governments’ use of AI to improve public services, analyze complex data, and strengthen cybersecurity.
At the same time, some respondents see certain types of workers at risk, particularly manufacturing and skilled workers, while health and social service roles are unlikely to be negatively affected.
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