New data from Digital Business Ireland has found that 18% of adults have used ChatGPT, with almost one in ten people reporting that they used the AI tool for work purposes.
ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI, based in the US.
It uses natural language processes to create conversational dialogue, in response to user-generated prompts.
ChatGPT has a number of practical applications including, but not limited to: solving equations, sentiment analysis, composing short and long-form content, concept generation and data extraction.
The Digital Insights research has found that usage of the tool varies slightly among the genders; 15% female versus 21% male, and among the subset of adults who use ChatGPT, usage is most common among 18–24-year-olds.
It found that high income earners are twice as likely (16%) to use ChatGPT for work purposes compared to 8% of the general population.
This latest Digital Insights research demonstrates that while the functionality and the application of ChatGPT is often and widely discussed, usage of the tool remains low.
The polling data nevertheless identifies patterns of usage among the general population; ChatGPT is more commonly used by the younger, male cohort – a trend which is unlikely to reverse.
Digital Business Ireland has called for additional funding to be allocated to Skillnet, with the monies ringfenced for training on new technologies, such as ChatGPT.
The representative body contends that this measure is necessary to ensure that SMEs and other organisations can keep pace with digital innovation.
Chairperson of Digital Business Ireland, Ashley McDonnell said, "The research findings demonstrate that, more needs to be done to encourage businesses to avail of the operational efficiencies AI tools can help to support.
"Artificial intelligence provides a potentiality for businesses that is simply too good to ignore. Regardless of the industry you operate in, having an AI strategy should now be an imperative. Those discerning businesses that are willing to make the short-term time investment to learn the workings of the tool will undoubtedly yield tangible benefits in the longer-term."
