New Kaspersky Survey Reveals AI's Expanding Role in Society and Highlights Associated Risks

The study highlights AI's expanding roles from workplace management to educational tools and personal assistants, while also addressing potential risks associated with its growth.

A new survey by Kaspersky, titled ‘Excitement, Superstition and Great Insecurity – How Global Consumers Engage with the Digital World,’ reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into various aspects of society. The study highlights AI's expanding roles from workplace management to educational tools and personal assistants, while also addressing potential risks associated with its growth.

The survey, which draws on data from Similarweb, shows ChatGPT, one of the leading chatbots, attracted 153 million visits within its first month post-launch in November 2022 and surged to 2 billion visits by April 2024. Kaspersky’s study explores public confidence in AI, noting its growing presence in everyday life and its potential to shape significant life decisions.

Globally, 34% of respondents believe AI could be a fairer boss than a human due to its impartiality. This figure rises to 40% in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (META) region, and 42% in South Africa. In the field of education, 47% of respondents worldwide, 60% in the META region, and 68% in South Africa anticipate that AI will soon facilitate virtual learning experiences.

The survey also finds that half (50%) of global consumers view AI as an unavoidable part of life, with 43% having a positive outlook on its potential to bring exciting opportunities. In South Africa, 64% of respondents share this view. Additionally, 62% globally and 53% in South Africa consider AI a credible creator of art.

AI's role as a personal assistant is also noted, with over half of global respondents (57%), 67% in the META region, and 60% in South Africa expressing interest in using AI to manage their daily lives more efficiently. Furthermore, 48% of global participants and 56% in South Africa are open to using AI chatbots for online conversations, and 31% globally would use AI to find partners on dating apps. In South Africa, 63% believe AI will significantly impact human relationships, potentially replacing real-life partners.

Kaspersky’s Vladislav Tushkanov comments, “We are witnessing the growing adoption of AI in diverse roles beyond traditional data processing, including romance, education, and work. As AI technologies evolve, their potential to enhance human experiences grows. However, this advancement also brings risks such as overreliance, AI-generated phishing, deepfakes, and identity theft.”

To mitigate AI-driven threats, Kaspersky recommends:

Install Trusted Cybersecurity Solutions: Use software that detects AI-enhanced phishing attempts, blocking malicious pages and fraudulent emails.

Verify Requests: Be cautious with requests for personal data or money, even if they appear to come from trusted sources. Verify their authenticity through alternative methods.

Use Online Privacy Checkers: Adjust privacy settings to limit exposure to identity theft by minimizing accessible personal information.