One million Australians were already using ChatGPT in January 2023
Australians are showing strong interest and rapidly adopting new Generative AI applications such as Open AI’s ChatGPT, according to new research from the Australian emerging technology analyst firm, Telsyte.
One in five Australians aged 16 and older were already aware of ChatGPT, and one million Australians were already using it according to a survey conducted by Telsyte in mid-January 2023, just a month and a half since the release of ChatGPT.
The study also found that one in three (34 per cent) Australians is already interested in using Generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT for various tasks such as language translation (44 per cent), brainstorming ideas (34 per cent), summarising long documents (33 per cent), and helping with research (27 per cent). The intention rises to 49 per cent among young Australians aged 18 to 34s.
With many learning and discovering the potential of Generative AI, the research also found that 33 per cent of the Australian workforce interested in the technology intends to use it for work.
However, the study also reveals some challenges and risks associated with Generative AI. Nearly half (49 per cent) of Australians anticipate significant changes to the workforce and job requirements in the future due to the growing prevalence of AI-based machines and software.
Only 29 per cent of the current workforce is willing to train machines or software to take over part of their own work, as well as part of someone else’s work (29 per cent).
A workforce that could look very different in 10 years’ time because of AI.
The Australian workforce is preparing for a future workplace that might look very different in a decade. In fact, 35 per cent of workers already expect that machines, AI, or robots could perform their roles in the future.
Of those who think machines could do their roles, 42 per cent think part of their roles will be replaced in five years, while a staggering 71 per cent think this will happen in 10 years.
When asked about the possibility of their roles being fully taken over by machines or AI, 30 per cent of the workforce think this could happen in a decade. This figure rises to 57 per cent when the timeframe is extended to 20 years.
Overall, almost three-quarters (73 per cent) of Australians anticipate future jobs will be affected by Generative AI. The top perceived roles include customer services (58 per cent), IT services (49 per cent) accounting services (40 per cent), tourism (39 per cent) and graphic design (36 per cent).
“The Australian workforce want to reduce the workload, but are wary AI might replace them”, says Foad Fadaghi, Principal Analyst and Managing Director at Telsyte.
“Generative AI has the potential to transform many industries and sectors, but it also poses some ethical and social implications that need to be carefully considered and addressed,” says Fadaghi.
Incoming AI-as-a-Service
As generative AI models and APIs become more accessible and versatile, Telsyte anticipates that more paid AI assistance services like ChatGPT Plus will emerge in 2023.
The study revealed that 9 per cent of Australians would pay for AI assistance subscriptions to assist them with their daily tasks and queries, especially those aged 25 to 34s (15 per cent) and those working in the professional (16 per cent) and education (16 per cent) sectors.
On average, those who would pay for AI subscriptions are willing to spend around just under $US10 per month. However, 37 per cent of respondents would pay over $US10 per month, suggesting a potential market for prosumer applications.
