KCCI Survey of 1,016 Citizens
90% Respondents Rate ChatGPT Trustworthiness as 'Average or Higher'
"AI, Robots, Semiconductors, Secondary Batteries" Top 3 Promising Industries
One in three Koreans has reportedly used the AI-based conversational service 'ChatGPT' at least once.
According to a survey conducted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry from the 22nd to the 28th of last month targeting 1,016 adults aged from their 20s to 60s, 35.8% of respondents said they had used ChatGPT at least once.
When asked about their experience with ChatGPT, 30.2% answered that they had used it once or twice out of curiosity, while 5.6% said they use it frequently because they find it effective and enjoyable. Meanwhile, 64.2% responded that they had never used it.
By generation, the proportion of those who had used ChatGPT at least once was highest among Generation X (born 1975?1984) at 42.2%, followed by the MZ generation (born 1985?2010) at 40.2%, and the Baby Boomer generation (born before 1974) at 29.2%.
Regarding trust in ChatGPT's results, most respondents answered 'average' (62.1%) or 'yes' (26.5%). This means that 9 out of 10 Koreans (89.5%) have at least an average level of trust in ChatGPT's output. By generation, Baby Boomers showed the highest trust at 93.1%, followed by Generation X at 91.5%, and the MZ generation at 83.4%.
The most useful functions of ChatGPT were reported as 'information search' (50.7%), 'idea generation (inspiration)' (15.3%), 'writing and ghostwriting' (11.9%), 'coding' (11.3%), and 'summarization' (7.9%).
Kim Mun-tae, head of the Industrial Policy Team at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated, "Even if similar surveys on future promising industries were conducted overseas, the results would likely be similar. To secure international competitiveness in these industries, companies must actively engage in technology development, and the government should provide comprehensive support such as workforce training, R&D, and tax credits."
In a survey on perceptions of promising industries 5 to 10 years from now, the MZ generation selected AI and robotics (30%) as the top choice, followed by semiconductors (19.2%), secondary batteries (11.1%), content industry (7.3%), and pharmaceuticals and bio (6.4%).
The older generations had similar views. Generation X and Baby Boomers also ranked AI and robotics, semiconductors, and secondary batteries as their top three promising industries. However, the 4th and 5th industries differed: unlike the MZ generation, Generation X chose aerospace and content industries, while Baby Boomers selected green industries (such as hydrogen and solar power) and aerospace.
Kim Mun-tae emphasized, "The three major promising industries commonly selected across all generations are technology-intensive sectors expected to have extensive convergence areas and applications across industries, leading to high future demand."
He added, "Recent social changes integrated into daily life, such as the ChatGPT craze, the spread of electric vehicles, and the need for replacement labor due to declining birth rates, likely had a significant impact on the public's selection of promising industries."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
