A recent global survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Google revealed that 70 percent of Nigeria’s online population has used generative AI, significantly surpassing the 48 percent global average.
The study, titled: ‘Our Life with AI: From Innovation to Application,’ also highlighted that 87 percent of Nigerians are excited about AI’s potential, believing its benefits outweigh the risks. This level of optimism places Nigeria among the most enthusiastic nations globally regarding AI adoption and potential.
The survey was conducted between September 17 and October 8, 2024, with 21,043 adults interviewed online. The participants included approximately 1,000 adults aged 18+ from 20 countries, including Nigeria, representing their respective general or online populations. The survey has a credibility interval of ±3.8 percentage points for each country.
Globally, AI usage has jumped to 48 per cent with excitement about its potential (57 per cent) now exceeding concerns (43 percent), a shift from the previous year’s balanced sentiment. In Nigeria, this excitement is even more pronounced, with 87 per cent of respondents believing that AI’s benefits outweigh its risks.
On the economic front, 81 percent of surveyed Nigerians anticipate that AI will positively impact the economy. Furthermore, 90 percent of respondents believe AI will drive advancements in science and medicine, highlighting the population’s strong faith in AI’s transformative potential.
Compared to other regions, Nigeria’s online population demonstrates higher levels of AI usage and excitement. While some European and North American countries express caution, Nigerians show overwhelming optimism about AI’s ability to improve lives, productivity, and access to resources.
Surveyed Nigerians also expressed support for fostering AI innovation rather than imposing restrictive regulations, underscoring their desire to embrace progress. This aligns with a global trend where experience with AI tools tends to increase confidence in their potential.
Commenting on the findings, the CEO of Ipsos, Ben Page said, “Our latest multinational survey with Google shows that people view the continuing development of AI as important and exciting, but something that should be done thoughtfully. As more people use and gain experience with AI, they better understand how it can help them and the possibilities it offers.”
President of global affairs at Google & Alphabet, Kent Walker, added: “AI is starting to deliver magic at scale, making people’s lives easier and better. Today’s survey results show the more people use these tools, the more excited they get about the possibilities and about the personal, professional, and scientific breakthroughs on the way.”
