A recent survey conducted by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) revealed a high global awareness and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), with significant enthusiasm in emerging markets such as India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The findings indicate that over 90 per cent of consumers in India and UAE are familiar with AI technologies like ChatGPT, while awareness in China and Saudi Arabia exceeds 80 per cent. Overall, a 75 per cent of respondents have utilised AI-driven services, signaling a robust integration of AI into daily life.
The survey, which gauged consumer sentiments across various countries, showed that people are drawn to AI for its ability to deliver comfort, customisation and convenience. Specifically, applications in health and fitness, personalised product recommendations and AI-powered visual search tools are widely used, helping to enhance personal well-being, streamline shopping experiences and reduce everyday efforts.
Despite the broad adoption and excitement surrounding AI, the report uncovered a spectrum of emotions with a considerable number of consumers feeling conflicted. About 40 per cent of those surveyed express unreserved excitement about AI’s potential, yet around 28 per cent have mixed feelings, excited by some aspects but concerned about others, particularly the implications for job security and data privacy.
In the workplace, the impact of AI is viewed differently across various sectors. Employees in relationship-intensive roles such as healthcare and education feel less threatened by AI, acknowledging the technology's potential to complement their jobs. Conversely, individuals in fields like finance and marketing, which involve more process-intensive tasks, report feeling more vulnerable to being replaced by AI.
Further, the report explored how consumer attitudes towards AI vary by country, influenced by factors such as digital competitiveness and media portrayal. Countries with young, tech-savvy populations, including Thailand and the Philippines, showed a higher level of excitement about AI. On the other hand, in digitally advanced economies like the United States and Germany, there is heightened concern over AI's potential to disrupt job markets.
