AI is like the new kid on the block that everyone’s gossiping about. You can’t swing a digital cat without hitting an article on AI, whether it’s AI-generated Van Goghs or cheeky reports of ChatGPT being used to ace homework. But amidst all the chatter, who’s actually getting their hands dirty with AI tools and what’s this tech actually doing to our lives?
Welcome to the AI Club, or Maybe Not
Despite the incessant buzz, AI tools are still an exclusive club, and let’s just say the club members are likely to know what ‘on fleek’ means. Sure, ChatGPT has broken into mainstream consciousness, but Bing with ChatGPT and Bard? They’re still waiting for their invitation to the party.
Just to give you a sense of the age divide in AI tool usage:
- Boomers: 4.8 million
- Gen X: 15.8 million
- Millennials: 36 million
- Gen Z: 34.9 million
But don’t let these numbers fool you. AI’s quietly creeping into our daily apps like Photoshop and Gmail. These ninja-like features are blurring the lines of what we even call “AI tools.”
The AI Optimism Train
Even though AI tools aren’t exactly in everyone’s toolbox, the optimism for AI’s impact is like a train at full speed. With 74% expecting AI to make a big splash, it’s beating electric vehicles (69%) and leaving NFTs (34%) in the dust. Looks like the NFT hype might be a passing cloud.
A New Canvas for Creativity, with a Human Touch
AI has become a playground for the creatively inclined. It’s all about tweaking photos, whipping up tunes and videos, and spinning stories with AI. But these tools are not quite the lone rangers yet, a human touch is still key to make the magic happen.
In every creative category we surveyed, AI users felt it helped them create something they couldn’t have done alone. Artwork topped the list. A new era of Da Vincis, anyone?
The AI Art: Creative Genius or Legal Nightmare?
AI image generators are stirring up a storm in the art world. The debate on the ethics and legality of using web-scraped data without the artist’s green light is heating up. The public seems to be in a bit of a tug-of-war over this.
70% believe that artists should get their due when an AI tool clones their style. But a majority also don’t want to put a leash on these capabilities. We seem to be in a bit of a love-hate relationship with our AI art.
AI Regulation: The Public’s Thirst is Real
The public isn’t sitting around waiting for tech moguls to sort out the AI muddle. A solid 76% think we need some rulebooks around AI. Wheels are already turning, with the EU AI Act and US hearings underway.
People want better standards for AI systems, including tagging AI-generated deepfakes and ensuring AI language models are trained on verified data.
A Look Into the AI Crystal Ball
Predicting AI’s societal impact is like a mixed bag of excitement and worry. People see job cuts, privacy threats, and misuse by governments and corporations. But there’s also hope for new medical breakthroughs and economic opportunities.
A sizable chunk of people think adventurous AI predictions could become a reality. Some even foresee a sentient AI on the horizon. Clearly, there’s both anticipation and apprehension about AI’s role in our lives and society.
AI may be the tech world’s darling right now, but it’s still largely a privilege of a select few. As this technology evolves, we need to tackle the ethical quandaries and set up guidelines to ensure that AI is a force for good. And if sentient AI ever steps out of sci-fi into reality, well, we better fasten our seatbelts for a rollercoaster ride of challenges.
