Generative AI already adopted by a million Australians – how it will change our lives

Generative AI like Open AI’s ChatGPT is becoming rapidly adopted by Australians with one million already using the technology according to research by analyst firm Telsyte.

One in five Australians aged 16 or older are already aware of ChatGPT and more than a million had already adopted the technology just a month and half after ChatGPT’s release.

The research found one in three (34 per cent) Australians were interested in using the generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT for a variety of tasks.

The most popular tasks for ChatGPT are language translation (44 per cent), brainstorming ideas (34 per cent), summarising long documents (33 per cent) and helping with research (27 per cent).

And among Australians aged 18 to 34, intention to use the technology is at 49 per cent.

There is also huge potential for the Australian workforce with 33 per cent looking at ways generative AI can be used for work.

But almost half of Australians (49 per cent) are anticipating significant changes to the workforce and job requirements.

Telsyte’s research shows 35 per cent of workers already expect machines, AI or robots could take over their duties with 42 per cent of this group believing they could be replaced within five years and 71 per cent within 10 years.

The jobs expecting to be impacted by generative AI include customer services (58 per cent) IT services (49 per cent), accounting services (40 per cent), tourism services (39 per cent), graphic design (36 per cent), financial services (35 per cent) and education services (33 per cent).

Other jobs like medical services (31 per cent), journalism (29 per cent), music production (29 per cent) and movie production (22 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.

The research also showed 9 per cent of Australians were willing to pay for AI assistance to assist them daily.

On average they are willing to pay just under $10 a month.