In Nigeria, AI adoption and enthusiasm are even higher. 70% of the online population have used generative AI, surpassing the 48% global average, according to a new global survey from Ipsos and Google.
Moreover, the survey titled: “Our Life with AI: From innovation to application,” revealed that 87% of Nigerians are excited about AI’s potential and see its benefits outweighing the risks.
The study was conducted by Ipsos between September 17 and October 8, 2024, on behalf of Google. For this survey, a sample of 21,043 adults were interviewed online. The sample was composed of approximately 1,000 adults 18+ per country, representative of the general population of each in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Survey samples of roughly 1,000 adults 18+ representative of the online population of each in Brazil, Chile, India, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. A sample of 1,036 adults age 18+ who are residents of the United States were interviewed online via the KnowledgePanel®. The survey has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points for all respondents in each country.
Key findings of the study showed that global AI usage has jumped to 48% and excitement about its potential now exceeds concerns (57% vs. 43%, up from 50% / 50% last year).
In Nigeria, a substantial 87 per cent of Nigerian respondents feel that AI’s potential benefits outweigh the associated risks, suggesting a strong belief in the positive impact of AI.
On economic impact, a significant 81% of surveyed Nigerian adults believe AI will positively change the economy. Furthermore, 90% of the survey respondents in Nigeria anticipate AI having a positive impact on science and medicine, demonstrating the widespread belief in the potential of AI to drive progress in these sectors.
Comparing Nigeria with other regions, the survey revealed that Nigeria’s online population demonstrates a higher level of excitement and adoption of AI when compared to other regions.
The survey indicates that Nigeria is among the top countries in terms of AI usage and excitement about its potential. This contrasts with more cautious sentiment in some European and North American countries.
Also, the Nigerian online community sees immense potential for AI in science and medical advancements as a significant 90% of survey respondents expect AI to have a positive impact on science and medicine. This is one of the highest rates globally, highlighting the strong anticipation of breakthroughs in these fields through AI.
The surveyed online population in Nigeria recognises AI’s potential to enhance personal and professional development as many believe AI can make people’s lives better by boosting productivity and providing access to resources.
Within the Nigerian online population surveyed, there is a prevailing sentiment that supports the fostering of AI advancement rather than restrictive regulations. This suggests that those surveyed are keen to embrace innovation.
In his reaction, CEO 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. We find that as more people use and gain experience with AI, they are better able to see how AI can help them and the possibilities that AI gives them.”
These results highlight the strong enthusiasm and optimism of the surveyed online population in Nigeria about the role of AI in various aspects of life, particularly in the economy, healthcare, and scientific advancement. The findings suggest that Nigeria’s online community is among the most enthusiastic globally about the transformative potential of AI.
“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,” said president of Global Affairs, Google & Alphabet, Kent Walker.
