Adoption rate was consistent across age groups, and optimism levels higher than awareness and concern levels.

Through a quantitative survey of 10,000 consumers over the age of 18 in 13 countries across the world* on perceptions of generative AI (GenAI) across two periods: April 2022 to March 2023 (for search analysis) and October 2022 to April 2023 (for social analysis) — one observation that can be made is that the adoption of first-wave generative GenAI tools has been consistent across age groups and geographies, with over half of all generations of respondents (including Baby Boomers), having used the technology.

Globally, 67% of the consumers surveyed indicated that they could benefit from receiving medical diagnoses and advice from generative AI, and 63% indicated that they were excited by the prospect of generative AI aiding with more accurate and efficient drug discovery.

Additionally, 66% of respondents would be willing to seek advice from generative AI for personal relationships or life and career plans, with 70% of Baby Boomers the most likely to use it for this purpose.

The other side of the story

As to the flip side of the use and potential abuse of generative AI, respondents’ level of awareness and concern was low:

    • 49% of respondents remained unconcerned by the prospect of GenAI being used to create fake news stories
    • 34% were concerned about phishing attacks
    • 33% were worried about copyright issues
    • 27% were worried about the use of generative AI algorithms to copy competitors’ product designs or formulas
    • 43% were keen for organizations to implement generative AI throughout customer interactions, and half were excited by the highly immersive and interactive experiences that this technology can enable
    • 70% of respondents sought GenAI recommendations for new products and services, and 64% of global consumers were open to making purchases based on such recommendations.
    • There were no significant variations across age groups, and 67% of respondents were positively anticipating GenAI’s ability to offer, specifically, customized fashion and home décor recommendations

According to Niraj Parihar, CEO (Insights & Data Global Business Line) and member of the Group Executive Committee, Capgemini, which commissioned the survey:

Generative AI is not ‘intelligent’ in itself; the intelligence stems from the human experts who these tools will assist and support. The key to success therefore, as with any AI, is the safeguards that humans build around them to guarantee the quality of its output.

* The US, Europe, and Asia Pacific region, the UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, and Sweden