A recent study shows that the majority of British citizens, four out of five, are utilizing artificial intelligence in their daily lives. However, a significant portion, 27%, confesses to having limited knowledge about AI. Despite AI integration into daily activities like online shopping and appointment scheduling, there exists a noticeable gap between AI usage and understanding.
Less than half of the survey participants (49%) could correctly identify an AI-generated image of Big Ben from a photograph, indicating the challenge in distinguishing between real and AI-generated content. The study, conducted by Vodafone, unveiled the nation’s AIQ for the first time, with only 13% of Brits achieving high scores (80%+).
On average, individuals scored 57% on the new AI quiz, raising concerns about a growing AI skills deficit in the UK. AI expert Dr. Nisreen Ameen, a co-creator of the quiz, emphasized the importance of enhancing AI literacy for individuals to use the technology ethically and responsibly.
The research disclosed that 19 million Brits utilize AI daily for various tasks such as making appointments (21%), shopping (20%), and work-related support (17%). Sheffield emerged as the most AI-savvy city in the UK, surpassing the national average, while Birmingham reported lower scores.
Individuals aged 25 to 34 lead in AI usage, with 48% incorporating it into their daily routines. Surprisingly, older age groups also embrace AI, with 27% of individuals over 80 confident enough to explain AI to others and 12% using it daily.
AI has had a transformative impact on people’s lives, as exemplified by Lin Park, 76, from North Yorkshire, who learned about AI through digital inclusion hubs and now uses it for various meaningful tasks. The study highlighted a significant gap in AI confidence and understanding, with misconceptions about AI capabilities prevalent among different age groups.
Nicki Lyons, chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer at VodafoneThree, emphasized the importance of providing accessible training and support to bridge the digital divide exacerbated by the rapid integration of AI technology.
Helen Milner OBE, chief executive of Good Things Foundation, stressed the necessity of enhancing digital confidence to ensure full societal participation and safeguard individuals from being left behind in the era of rapid digital transformation and emerging technologies.
To assess AI understanding and boost confidence, Vodafone has introduced the AIQ quiz as part of Get Online Week, encouraging individuals to check their AI knowledge and access resources to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven world.