
A new survey commissioned by Google Australia & New Zealand has confirmed Australians’ use of and sentiment towards artificial intelligence (AI) has surged in 2024 compared to the previous year.
The global study of 21 countries conducted by IPSOS, including a poll of 1,000 Australians, revealed 49 per cent reported that they had used generative AI (genAI) in 2024, up by 11 per cent from 2023.
Despite reserving some concerns when compared to those polled from other countries, Australians presented much more positive sentiment about AI than they did last year, with 52 per cent believing AI will benefit people (compared to 46 per cent in 2023).
The research also suggests that Australians are becoming more receptive to the positive impact AI could have in the next five years on jobs and industries, rising from 40 per cent in 2023 to 47 per cent in 2024.
This aligns with the fact that close to three-quarters (74 per cent) of the Australians who reported that they use AI do so at their workplace, but in more of an ‘assisting’ capability such as writing (75 per cent), brainstorming (69 per cent), problem solving (70 per cent), digesting longer documents (68 per cent) and understanding complex information (60 per cent).
More Australians also have a more positive outlook on the potential impacts of AI in 2024 than they did in 2023, with 39 per cent believing AI will change the economy for the better (compared to 29 per cent the previous year) and only 12 per cent of workers remain concerned that their role or industry may be made redundant due to AI (compared to 20 per cent the previous year).
The Australian survey respondents also suggested they expected AI to benefit society in areas such as science (68 per cent), medicine (67 per cent), agriculture (55 per cent) and cybersecurity (47 per cent).
“As more people experience the benefits of AI firsthand, they understand its potential to drive progress and solve challenges,” Mel Silva, Managing Director of Google Australia & New Zealand, said.
“These findings, particularly around adoption and optimism are a positive sign for Australia’s future and our economy. While there are many factors that contribute to growth, the widespread adoption of transformative technologies like AI, by both consumers and businesses, can have a meaningful impact on Australia’s productivity.
“It’s incredible to see Australia move beyond experimentation to action, harnessing AI to create real-world benefits – and it’s exciting to think about the potential benefits to our economy.
“Australians can also be proud that our country is at the forefront of applying AI to these challenges. This commitment is the foundation of our $1 billion Digital Future Initiative, where we’re collaborating with leading Australian organisations to apply AI to areas like improving healthcare and protecting native wildlife.”