The phenomenon surprises even the scientific community: artificial intelligence (AI) has established itself more quickly than any other technology in the daily life of the population. Half of Swiss people use it, according to a study by the University of Zurich. But AI also widens the digital divide between generations and between levels of education.
They have only existed for two years and their operation is quite opaque. Nevertheless, almost all Swiss are aware of generative AI tools such as Chat GPT (98%), and half of the population use them (54%). This is the result of a study from the Institute of Communication Sciences and Media Research at the University of Zurich. It is based on an opinion survey commissioned by the SSR.
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For Michael Latzer, professor of media change and innovation at the University of Zurich, these high values are surprising. “In a year and a half, from zero to almost all young people and half of the population got involved. This has never happened with any other new digital service before,” he emphasizes.
Those who use AI tools do so primarily “to test how effective they are.” Others to process and simplify long texts, complete tasks or simply learn new things. Nearly three-quarters of them feel very or somewhat comfortable with AI tools.
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The younger and more educated the respondents were, the more positive their attitude towards AI was. In the youngest age group (16 to 29), almost everyone has already tried AI tools (93%). In the oldest age group (over 70), 72% have never used them. A similar picture emerges depending on the education level of the respondents.
Rising digital inequalities
For Professor Latzer, it is therefore clear that AI will exacerbate digital inequalities in Switzerland between the youngest and most educated on the one hand, and the oldest and least educated on the other.
Almost half of the Swiss population has never used AI tools (46%). The vast majority of these people (77%) also have no intention of using these services, at least in the near future.
The most common reasons for not using generative AI are that “it often creates false information” and that it has little to do with respondents' daily lives. Data protection concerns also play a role. Respondents overwhelmingly agree with the claim that AI could be used to monitor people's private lives.
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However, for the majority of respondents, the opportunities of AI appear to be greater than the risks. “What is striking is the ease with which these tools are used,” emphasizes Michael Latzer. “The positives of using it seem to outweigh the negatives,” he concludes.
There is no clear opinion on the issue of regulating AI applications. However, half of the population (54%) think children should be denied access to AI tools.
Marco Morell (SRF)
French adaptation: Julien Furrer (RTS)
