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The survey , which spanned 1,300 respondents in ten African and Middle Eastern countries , revealed that 63 % of users are open to sharing their personal information , while an impressive 83 % expressed confidence in the accuracy and reliability of these AI tools . “ While the results clearly show that Generative AI tools are widely used , they also highlight the need for increased user training and awareness regarding the potential risks associated with this powerful new technology ,” said Anna Collard , SVP Content Strategy and Evangelist at KnowBe4 Africa .

Upon its introduction in late 2022 , ChatGPT revolutionised the way people work . The highly adept chatbot , known for its natural and impeccable English , swiftly won over critics . Business teams discovered they could create marketing campaigns in a matter of minutes instead of hours and effortlessly generate content in various forms , such as text and images . However , some argue that the world has embraced Generative AI too hastily .

“ The adoption of GenAI offers tremendous opportunities for African users and organisations but we also need to consider the associated risks ,” said Collard . “ Our survey – which runs across users owning smartphones in 10 African countries – indicates that all respondents are using Generative AI in their personal and professional lives , with many using it on a daily or weekly basis .”

The primary purposes for using Generative AI are research , information gathering , email composition , creative content generation and document drafting . Respondents highlighted several benefits of using Generative AI , including time-saving , assistance with complex tasks , increased productivity and enhanced creativity .

“ Despite the hype about job losses and various industries being negatively affected by Generative AI , 80 % of respondents didn ’ t feel that it threatened their job security , although 57 % believed it has the potential to replace human creativity ,” said Collard . “ What is interesting in the findings is the disconnect between what people think and the reality , particularly when it comes to cybersecurity .”

Too willing to share sensitive data

The survey , carried out across South Africa , Botswana , Nigeria , Ghana , Kenya , Egypt , Mauritius , Morocco , United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia , revealed that almost two-thirds of users are at ease sharing their personal information with Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT . The comfort level in sharing sensitive data varied across countries . For example , in South Africa , only 54 % of users were comfortable sharing their personal information with Generative AI tools , while in the UAE it was 67 % and in Nigeria it was 75 %.

According to the survey , 83 % of users feel confident about the accuracy and reliability of Generative AI , showing an excessive level of trust . Collard said that it is important to encourage critical thinking and be aware of our psychological biases that make us blindly trust content that is synthetically generated .

Another concerning finding is the lack of comprehensive policies in organisations to address the challenges associated with Generative AI . Almost half of the respondents ( 46 %) reported having no Generative AI policy at work , and 8 % stated that they were prohibited from using it . x www . intelligentcxo . com

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