Paris— What is the perception of generative AI almost a year and a half after the launch of ChatGPT to the general public? How does it vary according to environments, professional and personal? How does France position itself on this subject compared to the rest of the world? What lessons can businesses learn from this?
BCG examines these questions in its latest report entitled “Consumers know more about GenAI than business leaders think”. The analysis lists the responses of 21,400 consumers and employees from 21 countries, including France, across all sectors of activity.
Here are the main messages:
Overall high knowledge and use of generative AI
- In France, more than 80% of those surveyed are aware of generative AI , a figure in line with the international average and higher than the authors anticipated.
- 18% of French respondents already use it , regardless of their gender and age. A figure 7 points lower than the international average (25%). Unsurprisingly, the youngest cohorts – under 35 – have the highest usage rates.
Greater enthusiasm for generative AI in the workplace
- On average, 70% of employees say they are enthusiastic about the idea of integrating generative AI at work (training, efficiency). In France, this figure drops to 58%.
- This figure hides disparities depending on the sector of activity studied:
- People most concerned about generative AI work in marketing and finance industries
- Conversely, respondents from the medical, educational and child sectors are the least worried
- On a personal level, only 43% of consumers are optimistic about using generative AI. In France, this figure even drops to 29%.
- Among the concerns raised, 10% of consumers expressed concern about the environmental impact of AI. A low figure which could however be identified as a weak signal.
France, the most pessimistic country on the subject
- 31% of French employees say they are concerned about the use of generative AI at work compared to 15% on average , which makes France the most pessimistic country on the subject.
- The delta is all the more important when it comes to integrating generative AI into personal life: 50% of French consumers say they are worried compared to 29% on average. Fears crystallize around the security of their personal data and the uncertainty associated with technology (impact on employment). France is the most pessimistic country on the subject.
A clear polarization of feelings between developed and developing countries:
- Only 7% of Chinese employees and 11% of Indian employees express concern about GenAI (compared to 18% in the United States and 19% in Germany).
- As for consumers, only 9% of Chinese consumers and 11% of Indian consumers are worried about the subject. This figure rises to 40% in the United States and 39% in Germany.
Implications for leaders:
The authors invite leaders wishing to exploit the potential of GenAI to activate several levers:
- Take into account consumer opinion to integrate the nuances of perception which vary from one country to another.
- Address data security concerns through transparency efforts and a responsible AI approach.
- Anticipate the impacts on employees by rethinking the functions and organization of the company using GenAI.
