Kaspersky: AI's growing societal role

According to a new survey by Kaspersky, titled ‘Excitement, Superstition and great Insecurity – How global Consumers engage with the Digital World,’ AI is increasingly becoming integrated into society

The study indicates that AI is now playing more roles in various fields where it can be effective and trusted by humans.

Statistics from Similarweb highlight that ChatGPT, a leading chatbot, received 153 million visits in its first month following its November 2022 launch, and visits peaked at 2 billion in April 2024. In response to the rapid growth of AI, Kaspersky's comprehensive study examines current confidence levels in AI, exploring its use in management roles and in making important life decisions.

The survey found that many respondents view AI as a team member and even a manager, with 34% globally believing AI could be a fairer boss than a human due to its impartiality. This belief is even stronger in the Middle East, Turkiye, and Africa (META) region, with 40% agreement, and 42% in South Africa.

In education, 47% of global respondents, 60% in the META region, and 68% in South Africa anticipate children learning through virtual experiences and Metaverses in the near future.

Half of the respondents globally (50%), 53% in the META region, and 64% in South Africa acknowledge that AI is now an integral part of their lives. Additionally, 43% globally, 46% in the META region, and 52% in South Africa have a positive outlook on AI’s potential to create opportunities and improve the future. Furthermore, a significant number of respondents believe AI has creative capabilities, with 62% globally, 59% in the META region, and 53% in South Africa viewing AI as a credible creator of artistic works.

AI is also seen as a valuable companion and everyday assistant, with 57% of respondents globally, 67% in the META region, and 60% in South Africa expressing a desire to use AI to enhance daily efficiency.

Globally, 48% of survey participants, 60% in the META region, and 56% in South Africa are willing to use AI chatbots for online conversations. Additionally, 31% globally, 38% in the META region, and 33% in South Africa would use AI to find a partner on dating apps. A notable proportion believes that AI could significantly impact human relationships, with 48% globally, 58% in the META region, and 63% in South Africa anticipating changes if virtual characters begin to replace real-life partners.

Vladislav Tushkanov, machine learning technology research group manager at Kaspersky, commented, “We are witnessing the growing adoption of AI as a valuable tool, assisting people in diverse areas. Beyond traditional applications, such as processing and analysing data, AI is being entrusted with more intriguing personal roles, including romance, education, and work. As AI technologies continue to evolve, their potential to drive innovation and improve human experiences becomes even more profound. However, this advancement also brings unexpected risks and sophisticated threats, ranging from overreliance — putting too much trust in AI advice — to AI-generated phishing, deepfakes, and identity theft. These are the challenges that we need to address across multiple levels.”