Americans and ChatGPT: The Understated Revolution
According to a study by the Pew Research Center, while 58% of Americans have heard of ChatGPT, only a few have put it to use, and have dubbed the utility of this novel application as "moderate."
These statistics are intriguing, especially considering the remarkable popularity of the chatbot. It drew in an impressive 100 million users within just two months of its operation, spurred several scandals associated with deceptive content, and maintained enduring media attention, regularly making the headlines of news publications.
Younger generations are more familiar with the app (67%), and overall, 67% of men and 49% of women of all ages have heard of ChatGPT. Among diverse ethnic groups, Asian Americans lead the way (77% as opposed to 53% among others).
People with higher incomes have heard of the chatbot more frequently than those with lower incomes: 76% compared to 44%. This could be due to the more regular conversations about the latest technologies, including artificial intelligence, within higher-income circles. A similar pattern is seen in higher education: 79% of people with a degree are aware of ChatGPT.
When considering the actual use of ChatGPT, the numbers become surprisingly low: a mere 14% of all Americans have interacted with the chatbot. Among those familiar with the application, it's primarily used for entertainment (19%), education (14%), or work-related tasks (12%).
Men are more likely than women to use ChatGPT for entertainment (23% compared to 13%). Asian Americans emerged as the most active user group (over 25%), while the older generation barely utilizes the chatbot (less than 4%). Interestingly, the chatbot sees more work-related use among the less wealthy population (20% as opposed to a figure of 11% among wealthier individuals).
Detailed statistics of surveyed American users of ChatGPT. Source: official website of Pew Research Center
In terms of evaluating ChatGPT's effectiveness, seven in ten Americans give it credit: 15% find it extremely useful, 20% see it as a practical tool, and 39% acknowledged that it aided in achieving positive outcomes. The disparity between major age groups is relatively small: individuals under fifty tend to be roughly 7% more positive in their assessment of the chatbot, highlighting the younger generation's propensity to embrace trends and innovations.
