Digit, India's leading personal technology media brand, has published the findings of an innovative survey exploring the country's attitudes and reactions to the rapid pace of AI growth and its potential impact. The analysis done by the Digit Research Lab aimed to evaluate India's general sentiment and response to the potential effects of AI related to the employment and education sector.
The survey, which polled 3,050 participants from 24th March 2023 to 10th April 2023, revealed that 59% of Indians view AI as a mix of opportunities and threats, with 11% considering it a significant threat that could result in job displacement and increased competition. Students perceive the threat level even higher at 40%, as opposed to working professionals at 36%, according to Digit's findings.
"The results of Digit's survey highlight the critical role that AI is set to play in shaping India's future and the importance of equipping our workforce and students with the necessary skills to succeed in an increasingly AI-driven world. Although there are concerns about the potential risks of AI, the opportunities for growth and innovation are enormous. Digit is thrilled to demonstrate the power of AI tools such as ChatGPT by creating an entire issue of our magazine using this cutting-edge technology. We are excited to witness how AI will continue to transform the way we work and learn," says Vikas Gupta, Founder, and Director of 9.9 Group.
The Digit survey also disclosed that 67% of the respondents had a high familiarity with generative tools like ChatGPT. Meanwhile, 23% reported moderate familiarity, and a mere 10% indicated no familiarity. The study also determined that 75% of respondents believed their career growth would be hindered if they did not acquire knowledge in AI, machine learning, and related fields.
On an optimistic note, 62% of Indians acknowledge the substantial role of AI in personalized and expedited learning processes via targeted feedback. The survey also discovered that respondents believe the Indian education system should give priority to developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills (54%), building strong digital literacy foundations (49%), incorporating AI-related subjects in the curriculum (46%), and promoting interdisciplinary learning to foster adaptability (30%) to better equip students for a future with AI.
Digit Magazine even demonstrated the potential of AI tools like ChatGPT and generative AI art in the publishing sector with a special April 2023 "Written By AI" issue, which included cover stories, relevant features, letters to the editor, gadget reviews, and all other customary sections of the regular.
"Digit's research has produced compelling observations. Despite the concerns about job loss due to the growth of AI, the majority of the survey respondents have expressed a keen interest in learning more about AI to enhance their career prospects and professional development. This trend is not limited to students alone but also observed among professionals who want to make informed decisions, improve their skills, and advance their careers using AI. It will be fascinating to observe the overall impact of AI on the Indian job market as this technology continues to evolve”, says Ms. Shambhavi Sinha, Lead Analyst at Digit Research Labs.
Digit's survey offers valuable insights into India's reaction to the AI revolution and emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive strategy to address both opportunities and threats in the swiftly evolving landscape.
About Digit
For the past 22 years, Digit has been steadfast in its mission to be the most trusted friend when it comes to everything you may want or should know about technology. With editorial content across 8 languages (English + 7 vernacular), Digit is amongst the top 3 online tech destinations in India (as per Comscore rankings). Digit strives to educate you on how technology can enhance and enrich your life by providing you with information, opinion, and advice on what to buy and how to get the most out of it. With our ever-growing community, Digit is a sum of all its members and followers who are an integral part of Digit. Digit is not a brand, it’s a community that feeds your passion for technology. Digit's Gaming brand – SKOAR!, connects with gamers via its digital and on-ground properties like SKOAR! College Gaming Club (SCGC). Focussed on building the college-level gaming ecosystem in India, SCGC engages with gamers by partnering with colleges across India to establish gaming clubs/esports programs and support student competitive gaming leagues across dozens of colleges in India.