As artificial intelligence permeates our lives, public awareness becomes more and more important.
In this article, we look at a recent Pew Research Center survey examining American adults’ familiarity and experiences with ChatGPT, an open-access online chatbot known for its versatile and human-like responses.
Here is a little insight into the most important findings of the study:
- The level of familiarity of American adults with ChatGPT.
- The percentage of Americans who have used ChatGPT.
- How Americans used ChatGPT.
- Opinions of American users on the usefulness of ChatGPT.
Join us on our journey through public perceptions of AI, guided by the results of the Pew study.
ChatGPT: Familiar yet unexplored
The Pew Research Center study shows that most American adults have heard of the AI chatbot ChatGPT, although a small proportion have tried it.
Approximately 58% of the adult US population knows ChatGPT, but only 14% have interacted with it.
Most people who have dealt with the chatbot find it at least somewhat helpful.
Demographic differences in awareness
Familiarity with ChatGPT is not uniform across the American population.
The study finds notable demographic differences. Of adults with a postgraduate degree, about 80% have heard of ChatGPT, compared to 71% of those with a bachelor’s degree and 59% of those with a college education.
Only 41% of those with a college degree or less are familiar with AI.
Household income plays a role in awareness, with people from wealthier households being more familiar with ChatGPT.
Racial and ethnic differences can be observed, with Asian adults being more likely to have heard of ChatGPT.
The study found that 78% of Asian adults reported being somewhat familiar with ChatGPT. That number is in stark contrast to the roughly 60% of white adults and roughly half of Hispanic or black adults who said the same thing.
Gender and age correlate with consciousness. Men and adults under the age of 30 have heard of ChatGPT more often than women and those aged 30 and over.
How Americans use ChatGPT
Of Americans who heard about ChatGPT, 19% have used it Entertainment14% for Learnand a smaller number have used it work.
There is a strong correlation between age and use. Young adults (under 30) who are aware of ChatGPT are more likely than those 65 and older to have used the chatbot for entertainment.
As for the usefulness of ChatGPT, views in the US differ.
About a third of those who have used it find it extremely (15%) or very useful (20%), while 39% find it somewhat valuable.
Around a quarter of those who tried it found it not very (21%) or not at all useful. Interestingly, younger adults tend to find ChatGPT more useful than older adults.
Despite its usefulness, ChatGPT has been criticized for sometimes providing inaccurate answers, fabricating information, and citing non-existent sources, making these untruths appear to be real even to the people it interacts with.
These results underscore the importance of using AI responsibly and ensuring its reliability and compliance with ethical standards.
The future of AI use
Despite relatively low adoption among Americans, ChatGPT’s rapid rise has brought to the fore many questions about the future of AI in our daily lives.
The ongoing discussion about the use and potential abuse of ChatGPT reflects broader societal debates. Some see AI as a helpful tool for educational and work purposes, while others believe it should be used primarily for entertainment.
Diploma
As AI evolves, public opinion and usage patterns will change.
The Pew Research Center survey provides a snapshot of current perceptions and usage of ChatGPT, and these findings will no doubt inform the ongoing discussion about the role of AI in society.
Future studies are needed to track changing attitudes and behaviors as Americans become more comfortable with using AI in everyday life.
source: Pew Research Center
Featured image created by the author using Midjourney.
