The use of artificial intelligence in South Africa has shifted from experimentation to everyday utility, according to a new global study by Google and Ipsos. 

The findings show that South Africans are adopting AI tools at rates above the global average, with usage concentrated around learning, work support and career decision-making rather than entertainment or novelty use.

The study, Our Life with AI, surveyed 1'000 South African adults as part of a wider global sample across 21 countries. It found that 70% of adults in South Africa have used an AI chatbot, representing a 25 percentage point increase since 2023 and placing the country ahead of many developed markets in reported adoption.

The strongest signal in the South African data is the use of AI as a learning aid. According to the study, 86% of local respondents say AI helps them learn something new or understand complex topics, compared with a global average of 74%. 

A further 75% believe AI is useful in the workplace, reinforcing its role as a productivity and skills-support tool rather than a consumer novelty.

This pattern is consistent with broader findings in emerging markets, where respondents are more likely to view AI as improving access to information and education. In South Africa, 81% of respondents believe AI has a positive impact on how people learn, and 82% say it improves access to information, both well above global benchmarks.

Beyond education, South Africans are using AI to navigate economic uncertainty and career mobility. The study found that 65% of respondents have used AI to explore a new business venture or consider a career change, while nearly half have used it to help make major life decisions. 

These use cases reflect a pragmatic approach to AI adoption in a country with persistently high unemployment and skills mismatches.

Rather than viewing AI primarily as a corporate efficiency tool, respondents are more likely to describe it as a driver of personal empowerment. This places South Africa among the markets where AI is being absorbed fastest into day-to-day problem-solving, planning and decision-making.

While overall adoption is high, the research also highlights a widening gap between frequent users and those still finding their footing. About 27% of South Africans classify as “power users”, using AI tools extensively in work or daily life. At the same time, 63% say they would like to use AI more but lack confidence or skills to do so effectively.

This gap suggests that future growth in AI usage will depend less on awareness and more on usability, trust and applied training. For businesses and product builders, the opportunity lies in reducing friction between casual experimentation and confident, high-impact use.

The study also reveals a notable trust dynamic. While 88% of South African respondents say they trust technology companies to oversee AI development in the public interest, only 58% express the same confidence in government oversight. 

This mirrors global trends but is more pronounced locally, reflecting a preference for innovation-led progress over precautionary regulation.

Although 53% of respondents support protections for industries likely to be disrupted by AI, enthusiasm still outweighs concern. Among frequent users, excitement about its potential is significantly higher than fear of its risks.

Taken together, the findings suggest that South Africa’s AI adoption story is less about hype cycles and more about necessity. AI is increasingly embedded in how people learn, work and plan their futures.

For employers, educators and product builders, the market is no longer an early-adoption experiment. The challenge now is enabling deeper, more confident use in ways that translate curiosity into measurable productivity and opportunity.