South Africans Embrace AI Amid Job and Misinformation Concerns

Artificial intelligence has become a mainstream technology in South Africa, with a majority of people using it daily, according to a new survey by online research firm infoQuest. The survey reveals that nearly 70% of respondents consider themselves very or exceptionally familiar with AI, and 90% report actively using AI tools.

ChatGPT leads the adoption with 88%, followed by Meta AI at 79% and Gemini at 51%. Microsoft Copilot and Grammarly also show uptake, though at lower levels. AI is utilized both personally and professionally, with 56% applying it daily for personal tasks and 53% at work.

While 76% of respondents believe AI makes life easier, 63% express concerns about job losses, and 61% fear its role in spreading misinformation. Trust in AI remains mixed, as about 38% would not allow AI to make major personal decisions, and 78% regularly question AI’s accuracy.

Although 60% are comfortable with AI in content creation, only 24% trust it in medical diagnoses. InfoQuest managing director Claire Heckrath describes this situation as 'The AI Paradox' — enthusiasm for AI’s benefits is tempered by concerns about bias, misinformation, and overreliance.