Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds – Generative AIResults of 57th installment announced – Roughly 40% of young people ‘have used’ generative AI, and 10% used for summer homework

The 57th installment of the Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds, launched by The Nippon Foundation in October 2018, was carried out from August 19 to 20 on the subject of “Generative AI.” The survey found that, of 1,000 young people aged 17 to 19, close to 90% “Knew of” generative artificial intelligence and close to 40% had used it, primarily to create text, while roughly 60% of those who had not used it “Would like to try” using generative AI.

The top responses for why respondents had used generative AI were “To kill time” at more than 60% and “For assistance with preparing text for school homework or materials for work” at close to 40%. For homework assigned over summer vacation, however, those who had used or plan to use generative AI was only 10% of the total.

In addition, roughly 30% of respondents replied that they “Have been taught about the framework, features, and risks of generative AI in classes,” while roughly 20% replied that their high school or university “Has rules” on the use of generative AI. Furthermore, close to 20% of those who knew about generative AI replied that “The emergence of generative AI has affected or changed their dreams for the future, the type of job they want to pursue, or the subjects they want to study.”

Note: Generative artificial intelligence (AI) differs from conventional AI in being able to create new content (text, images, video, music, voices, etc.).

Highlights of the 57th Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds – Generative AI

Awareness and use of generative AI

  • Know about generative AI and have used it – 36.1%
  • Have not used it but know about it or have heard of it – 50.3%
  • Don’t know and have not heard about it – 13.6%

Handling of generative AI in high school or university classes or extracurricular activities

  • Have been taught about the framework, features, and risks of generative AI in classes – 31.8%
  • High school or university has rules on the use of generative AI – 21.8%
  • Have not heard about generative AI at high school or university – 31.1%

Use of generative AI for this year’s summer homework

  • Have used or intend to use – 10.4%
  • Have not used and don’t intend to use – 63.2%
  • Don’t have summer homework – 26.4%

Generative AI’s effect or changes on one’s future

Future dreams, type of job one hopes to pursue

  • Has been an effect or change – 17.7%
  • Has not been an effect or change – 48.0%

School subjects of interest

  • Has been an effect or change – 19.3%
  • Has not been an effect or change – 50.5%
  • * “Has been an effect or change” is the total of “Has been an effect or change” and “Has been somewhat of an effect or change”
  • * “Has not been an effect or change” is the total of “Has not been an effect or change” and “Has been somewhat no effect or change”

Survey Excerpts

Bar chart showing results from Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds: In response to the question, “Are you aware of, and have you used, generative AI?”, among all respondents (n = 1,000), 36.1% replied “Know about generative AI and have used it,” 50.3% replied “Have not used it but know about it or have heard of it,” and 13.6% replied “Don’t know and have not heard about it.” Among male respondents (n = 514), 41.8% “replied “Know about generative AI and have used it,” 48.1% replied “Have not used it but know about it or have heard of it,” and 10.1% replied “Don’t know and have not heard about it.” Among female respondents (n = 486), 30.0% replied “Know about generative AI and have used it,” 52.7% replied “Have not used it but know about it or have heard of it,” and 17.3% replied “Don’t know and have not heard about it.”
Awareness and use of generative AI
Bar chart showing results from Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds: In response to the question, “How is generative AI handled in your high school or university classes or extracurricular activities”? (among respondents who responded that their occupation is “student” and excluding those who replied “Don’t know and have not heard about it” in the previous question), among all respondents (n = 806), 31.8% replied “Have been taught about the framework, features, and risks of generative AI in classes,” 21.8% replied “High school or university has rules on the use of generative AI,” 11.2% replied “Have taken classes that use generative AI,” 11.0% replied “Have learned about the framework, features, and risks of generative AI in extracurricular activities,” 3.6% replied “Have been involved in extracurricular activities that use AI,” 31.1% replied “Have not heard about generative AI at high school or university,” and 14.3% replied “Don’t remember, don’t know.” Among male respondents (n = 423), 30.5% replied “Have been taught about the framework, features, and risks of generative AI in classes,” 21.5% replied “High school or university has rules on the use of generative AI,” 10.9% replied “Have taken classes that use generative AI,” 13.0% replied “Have learned about the framework, features, and risks of generative AI in extracurricular activities,” 5.0% replied “Have been involved in extracurricular activities that use AI,” 31.7% replied “Have not heard about generative AI at high school or university,” and 13.5% replied “Don’t remember, don’t know.” Among female respondents (n = 383), 33.2% replied “Have been taught about the framework, features, and risks of generative AI in classes,” 22.2% replied “High school or university has rules on the use of generative AI,” 11.5% replied “Have taken classes that use generative AI,” 8.9% replied “Have learned about the framework, features, and risks of generative AI in extracurricular activities,” 2.1% replied “Have been involved in extracurricular activities that use AI,” 30.5% replied “Have not heard about generative AI at high school or university,” and 15.1% replied “Don’t remember, don’t know.”
Handling of generative AI in high school or university classes or extracurricular activities
(Among respondents who responded that their occupation is “student” and excluding those who replied “Don’t know and have not heard about it” in the previous question)
Bar chart showing results from Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds: In response to the question, “Are you using generative AI for this year’s summer homework?” (among respondents who responded that their occupation is “student” and excluding those who replied “Don’t know and have not heard about it” in the previous question) of all respondents (n = 806), 7.9% replied “Have used generative AI,” 2.5% replied “Have not begun summer homework, but intend to use,” 7.8% replied “Have not begun summer homework, but don’t intend to use,” 55.3% replied “Am not using,” and 26.4% replied “Don’t have summer homework.” Among male respondents (n = 423), 8.3% replied “Have used generative AI,” 3.1% replied “Have not begun summer homework, but intend to use,” 8.0% replied “Have not begun summer homework, but don’t intend to use,” 55.1% replied “Am not using,” and 25.5% replied “Don’t have summer homework.” Among female respondents (n = 383), 7.6% replied “Have used generative AI,” 1.8% replied “Have not begun summer homework, but intend to use,” 7.6% replied “Have not begun summer homework, but don’t intend to use,” 55.6% replied “Am not using,” and 27.4% replied “Don’t have summer homework.”
Use of generative AI for this year’s summer homework
(Among respondents who responded that their occupation is “student” and excluding those who replied “Don’t know and have not heard about it” in the previous question)

About the Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds

Revisions to Japan’s Civil Code lowering the age of adulthood to 18 for a range of activities, including voting, took effect in April 2022, making it even more important to understand and record the awareness of the 18-year-olds who represent Japan’s next generation. With this in mind, in October 2018 The Nippon Foundation launched the Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds as an ongoing survey of 1,000 young men and women across Japan aged around 18, to survey their values, attitudes toward politics and elections, understanding of social issues, and other current themes on an ongoing basis.

Notes:

  1. From the 13th survey, the number of respondents, comprising men and women aged 17 to 19, has been increased to 1,000 from 800.
  2. With the exception of the 20th and 46th installments, “Awareness Survey of Society and Country,” all surveys cover respondents in Japan only.

Contact

Public Relations Team
The Nippon Foundation

  • Email: cc@ps.nippon-foundation.or.jp