With Google committing $25 million in funding to help educators and students develop AI skills, new research reveals that only half (49%) of those aged 16 to 29 can recognise when they’re using AI.
The business experts at Sopro have looked at how AI is shaping the business world and customer interactions and offered their tips on how businesses can use AI to drive sales without alienating customers.
Younger individuals (16-29) are more likely to have heard of AI (93%) and can explain it in some (or complete) detail (78%).
Whereas, a significant portion (43%) of the oldest generation (70+) had either never heard of AI or could not explain what it is.
However, the survey also revealed that almost half (49%) of those aged 16 to 29 only recognise when they’re using AI some of the time or occasionally.
This shows a significant gap in the public’s ability to identify the new technology, which could affect their understanding of its impact and willingness to knowingly engage with AI.
| How often do you think you can recognise when you are using artificial intelligence (AI)? | Aged 16 to 29 | Aged30 to 49 | Aged50 to 69 | Aged70 and over |
| Often or always | 31% | 18% | 12% | 8% |
| Some of the time | 33% | 34% | 30% | 20% |
| Occasionally | 16% | 21% | 21% | 16% |
| Hardly ever | 11% | 17% | 18% | 19% |
| Never | 9% | 10% | 18% | 36% |
| Some of the time or occasionally | 49% | 55% | 51% | 36% |
| Hardly ever or never | 20% | 27% | 37% | 55% |
Further Study Insights:
- Half (50%) of the population has not used AI intentionally in their day-to-day lives,
- The main concerns about AI are the misuse of personal data (72%) and the difficulty distinguishing fake news (68%).
- A substantial majority (69%) believe employers should consult employees before introducing AI technologies.
Rob Harlow, Chief Innovation Officer at Sopro, offers his insights into the benefits of incorporating AI in business:
“Incorporating artificial intelligence into business offers numerous beenfits. However, using AI successfully requires a thoughtful approach to balance its benefits with the risks of it not being used properly or relied on too much.
“Here are some of the key benefits:
- Improved efficiency and automation: AI can automate repetitive tasks, or act as a great starting point, allowing employees to focus on the more strategic elements of a task. This can lead to better customer service, quicker data processing, and cost savings.
- Improved personalisation: AI can use advanced data analysis to help businesses understand customer preferences and behaviour more granularly. This allows them to deliver tailored content, recommendations, and solutions, improving the customer experience and boosting loyalty and sales.
- Better decision-making: AI’s ability to process and analyse vast amounts of data can help businesses make informed decisions quickly. This is has typically particularly beneficial in large companies looking at market analysis, financial forecasting, and allocating resources, however the increasing accessibility of this technology makes it something that even the smallest companies can start to benefit from.
“To get the most out of AI without alienating customers, businesses should balance digital tools and human insight. By doing so these strategies, businesses can harness AI’s power to streamline operations and enhance the customer experience through true personalisation.”
